Timeline of Copyright Law
Copyright laws are established to protect authors. English law set the precedent for US law, which Congress is authorized to set in the Constitution. International treaties also affect US copyright law.
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English Law
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In 1662, the Licensing Act allowed printers exclusive monopolies on printed works. In 1710, the Statute of Ann moved copyright from printers to the authors of the works. It allows 14 year copyrights with a 14 year extension if the author is still alive.
Early US Law
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Article I, Section 8 of the US constitution allows Congress to regulate copyright law. The first law, The Copyright Act of 1790, was similar to the Statue of Anne in allowing authors rights and 14 year renewable copyrights.
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Revisions in Copyright Law
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In 1831, copyrights were extended to 28 years with 14 year renewal to bring US law in line with contemporary European laws. Revision in 1909 extended copyright to music and made copyright 28 years with 28 year extension. 1976 revisions addressed technological change and brought copyright law in line with Berne Convention Treaty on international copyright law. The United States would sign the Berne Convention treaty in 1988.
1998 saw two copyright laws passed. The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act made copyright terms the life of the author plus seventy years. The Digital Millennium Copyright Act addressed Internet infringement and copyright protection.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit black copyright symbol image by Angie Chauvin from Fotolia.com
