Copyright issues of preparing Ivan Franko’s works in 30 volumes for print

Abstract

The relevance of scientific research is determined by the need of describing the paper deals with the issues of copyright observance in the process of preparing the first multi-volume edition of Ivan Franko’s works. It was published by the private publishing houses “Rukh” and “Knyhospilka” during 1924–1931. Research methods: textological method, souerce studies analysis, synthesis, descriptive and chronological method. Novelty. The author of the paper focuses on the details of relations between “Rukh” publishing house and the descendants of the writer against the background of legislature on copyright protection in 1919–1924. The reasons for the publisher’s need to prove the exclusive right of printing a multi-volume edition of Ivan Franko’s works have been clarified. The necessity to conclude an agreement with the publishing house “Knyhospilka” have been substantiated as well. Reconstructing the dialogue with the descendants, the researcher used archival documents, stored in the Central State Archive-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine and the Department of Manuscripts and Textual Studies of Shevchenko Institute of Literature of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The analyzed materials include the private correspondence of the publishing house “Rukh” board members with I. Franko’s heirs, V. Vynnychenko and other Ukrainian writers; correspondence with officials, institutions and organizations, as well as documentation concerning the publisher’s payments to the authors. The total sum of the royalties has been indicated. The paper also highlights a number of difficulties and problems complicating the publishing project. Conclusions. The analysis of archival documents adds substantial information on some aspects of copyright issues that were topical during the publication of Ivan Franko’s works in 30 volumes