Copyright - Introduction

The basis of copyright in law (History)

"No sooner had William Caxton set up his printshop in London than an act (I Richard. 3 c. 9) was passed to regulate the British book-trade. This Tudor statute permitted the importation of foreign books because the legislators... believed that such a practice would encourage the growth of learning."
Phillip V. Allingham, The Victorian Web

A summary of the history of copyright in the United States is available as Circular 1a from the US Copyright Office. See also the Association of Research Library's Timeline for references to other historical sites. Legal resources, with an excellent set of links, can best be found at the Cornell Law School "copyright" site. Especially useful in understanding the intent of the law are the legislative notes available there. Finally, for legal scholars and enthusiastic historians, the amicus brief [pdf] filed in Eldred v. Ashcroft (2002) is especially useful. The following is a brief timeline showing copright term extensions and a few important developments:

1787 - US Constitution

Article I, Section 8 "To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries"

1790 - First copyright law enacted under US Constitution.

Term of 14 years with privilege of renewal for 14 years. First copyright entry, June 9, 1790, The Philadelphia Spelling Book by John Barry.

1831 - First general revision of the copyright law.

First term of copyright extended to 28 years, with renewal of 14 years.

1870 - Second general revision of copyright law.

Copyright activities centralized in Library of Congress. Authors given right to derivative works.

1909 - Third general revision of copyright law

Renewal term extended to 28 years.

1947 - Copyright law codified as title 17 of US Code.

1976 - Fourth general revision of copyright law, effective 1978

Terms became life of author + 50 years. Numerous other modern provisions.

1998 - Sonny Bono Copyright Extension Act

Life of author + 70 years.

1998 - Digital Millennium Copyright Act

Specific protection for digital copies of media and other provisions.

2002 The TEACH Act

Harmonization of face-to-face copyright exceptions and distance education exceptions.

Of course many other revision of the laws and many court cases shaped the law over this long history.

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