Statute of Anne

The Statute of Anne ( full title: An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or Purchasers of seeking Copies, falling on the Times Therein Mentioned from 1710 ) is considered the first modern copyright law. For the first time the right of the author has been formulated in his work, which had previously held the publishers ( Stationers ). According to the preamble, the purpose of " the Encouragement of Learning ," that is, the promotion of education. This purpose should be realized by the exclusive right to print ( right to copy ) the respective authors or the purchasers of this right was granted for the particular law in time. By the Statute of Anne, the guild ( Stationers ' Company) was weakened because the exclusive right was finally lifted to the pressure of the guild and print rights could be traded outside the guild.

In the law, it was found that in recent times printers, booksellers and others the liberty had taken to publish books, without having obtained the consent of the author or other owner of the writings, which were thereby damaged the way to ruin. To prevent these processes and to scholars to write useful books to encourage, the law was adopted. There are three aspects mentioned by name

• the promotion of education (" Encouragement of Learning " );

• encouraging the scholars to write useful books (" Encouragement of Learned Men to Compose and Write useful Books " );

• the prevention of financial disadvantages for authors or rightholder by the emphasis by this a temporary exclusion right is granted (" by vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or Purchasers of seeking Copies, falling on the Times Therein Mentioned ").

For new works, the law limited the term of protection to 14 years. After the expiry of which stood the living author to be an extension of another 14 years. The period began with the first release not to run with the creation of the particular plant. It clearly states that the protection should expire at the end of the period (" and no longer "). The character of the exclusion law after the Statute of Anne created the equivalent of the guild right to copy, including the requirement of registration. The main difference with respect to the nature of the right arises from the fact that started from the publication of the period running. The law could be divided into ideal proportions and completely transferred accordingly continue.

With regard to the possible existence of already existing prior rights, the law remained unclear. The scheme granted to the author of the entry into force works already printed a protection of 21 years if he had not disposed of. Other people who " had the Copy or Copies of any Book or Books " acquired for the pressure given the same protection. After the text has to secured no existing right, but this must first be created. However, the earlier acquisition of printing privileges ( "[... ] Printer or other person, who hath already Purchased or Acquired [ ... ] the Copy or Copies of any Book or Books, Share or Shares thereof [...]" were ) declared effective (if the protection should end 21 years after the entry into force of the Act).

Original

• Http://www.copyrighthistory.com/anne.html