Barker, Donald, 1902-1922

Biographical Note

Donald Barker, a partner in the firm Flint, Gray & Barker, represented Bosworth Incorporated and Jack London in their suit against the Balboa Amusement Producing Company in 1913. In the suit, London, Frank A. Garbutt, and Hobart Bosworth accused the Balboa Amusement Producing Company, et. al., of infringing on London's copyrights by attempting to distribute a version of The Sea Wolf. Copyrights for all of London's other works were reviewed and their validity reestablished as well. Finally a compromise was proposed in December 1913 by which Garbutt would re-edit the Balboa version of The Sea Wolf to remove all traces of London's participation. The edited version would be distributed by Garbutt with all revenues returning to the Balboa Company and Bosworth Incorporated's version would not have to be held up any longer.

From the guide to the Donald Barker Papers, 1902-1922, 1913-1914, (The Huntington Library)