{"id":7088,"date":"2021-07-26T10:22:13","date_gmt":"2021-07-26T10:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/?p=7088"},"modified":"2021-07-26T10:22:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-26T10:22:16","slug":"history-of-copyright-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/","title":{"rendered":"What is the History of Copyright Law?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">The history of Copyright Law is an interesting but long &amp; complicated one. The traditional knowledge is that the beginning of modern Copyright Law is associated with the print invention in the 15<sup>th<\/sup> century in Europe. Printing granted mass dissemination of ideas and information included in the literary medium at a comparatively low cost. The development of literacy created an enormous demand for printed books, and the security of publishers &amp; authors from illegal copying or duplication was identified as increasingly in the context of this new means of making work available to the general public. This led to the performance of the very first Copyright Laws. In this write-up, we will discuss the history of Copyright Law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a398f03074d4\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a398f03074d4\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#History_of_Copyright_Law_in_the_UK\" title=\"History of Copyright Law in the UK\">History of Copyright Law in the UK<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#Statute_of_Anne\" title=\"Statute of\nAnne\">Statute of\nAnne<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#History_of_Copyright_Law_in_India\" title=\"History of Copyright Law in India\">History of Copyright Law in India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#Development_of_Copyright_in_India\" title=\"Development of\nCopyright in India\">Development of\nCopyright in India<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#Post-Independence_History_of_Copyright_Law_in_India\" title=\"Post-Independence History of Copyright Law in India\">Post-Independence History of Copyright Law in India<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/history-of-copyright-law\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Copyright_Law_in_the_UK\"><\/span>History of Copyright Law in the UK<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nhistory of Copyright Law starts to appear with printing machine invention,\nwhich made it likely to copy literary work by a mechanical procedure. The\nprinting press was created in the year 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg in Germany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nthe year 1483, the invention of Gutenberg reached the UK, and then Monarch King\nRichard III lifted the ban on the import of books &amp; manuscripts. As a\nconsequence, authors commenced sending their books to the UK for printing. They\nliked a royal license &amp; due to the proliferation of books, England soon\nbecame the Centre of Printing across Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\nthe year 1533, King Henry banned the imports of stationery &amp; books under\nthe pretext of the improvement &amp; growth of printers and publishers in\nEngland. In 1557, the stationery company received a royal charter and was\nissued the privilege of regulating the book trade. The company was essential\nfor three reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Safeguard trade quality;<\/li><li>Limit Competition;<\/li><li>Lessen unprofessionally.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Statute_of_Anne\"><\/span>Statute of\nAnne<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This\ncame into action on 10<sup>th<\/sup> April 1710. This Act caused a paradigm\nshift in the Copyright world. It recognised the author&#8217;s rights to published\nwork. This came to be known first Copyright Law in the world. The objective of\nthe Act was double:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>To encourage learning;<\/li><li>To provide the author\nprotection against piracy.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Main Rules of the Act<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>Book\u2019s\nauthor not yet printed shall have the only right of printing for 14 years and\nif after 14 years they are alive then additional 14 years;<\/li><li>No book shall be bought for the\nviolation unless the book title has been entered before publication in the\nRegister Book of the stationery entity.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"History_of_Copyright_Law_in_India\"><\/span>History of Copyright Law in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>History\nof Copyright Law in India begins in 1847 via an enactment at the time of the\nregime of East India Company. As per the 1847 enactment, the word Copyright was\nfor the author&#8217;s lifetime. However, in no case could the total term of\nCopyright exceed a time of 42 years. The Government could issue a compulsory\nlicense to publish a book if the Copyright owner declined to permit its\npublication upon the author&#8217;s death. The Infringement Act comprised an illegal\nprinting of a person&#8217;s copyrighted work for exportation or sale hire, or\nselling, exposing or publishing to sale or hire. Suitor action for violation is\nto institute in the highest local court practising original civil jurisdiction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Act offers specifically that under a contract of Copyright service in any magazine, encyclopaedia, periodical work, review. Moreover, work that publishes in parts or services of books shall protect by the publisher, owner, projector, or conductor. Violating copies were considered to be copies of the copyrighted work owner. Essentially, unlike today, Copyright in work was not automatic. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/copyright-registration\" class=\"text-primary\">Copyright Registration<\/a><\/strong> with the Home Office was compulsory for the enforcement of rights under the Act. But, the Act also reserved the continuation of Copyright in the author and their right to sue for its violation to the extent available in law other than the 1847 Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In\n1914, then the Indian Legislature enacted a new Copyright Act. Further, this\nextended most portions of the UK Copyright Act, 1911 to India. It did, but make\na few minor modifications. First, it stated criminal sanctions for Copyright\nInfringement from Section 7 to Section 12. Second, it changed the Copyright\nterm scope, under Section 4 of the Right of the author to produce, publish, or\nreproduce perform a translation of the work shall subsist only for a time of\nten years from the date of the first publication of the work. The author but retained\ntheir sole rights if within the time of ten years they published.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Development_of_Copyright_in_India\"><\/span>Development of\nCopyright in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After discussing some history of Copyright Law, let us understand the development of Copyright in India; before the Act, 1957, Copyright protection was regulated by the Copyright Act, 1914, which was the addition of the British Copyright Act, 1911. The Act changes after 1957 in 1983, 1984, 1992, 1994, &amp; 1999. In 2012, both&nbsp; Indian Parliament houses generally passed the <strong><em>Copyright Amendment Bill 2012<\/em><\/strong><sup><a href=\"https:\/\/copyright.gov.in\/documents\/cract_amndmnt_2012.pdf\" class=\"text-primary\"><strong><em>[1]<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some\nof the crucial amendments to the Copyright Act, 2012 are: getting the Act 1957\nin conventionality with WPPT and WCT. Further, widespread Copyright protection\nin the digital surroundings. They are such as penalties for the avoidance of\ntechnological protection measures &amp; rights management information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Introduction\nof legal licenses for cover versions &amp; broadcasting organisations. Make\nsure the right to receive royalties for author&#8217;s and music composers, exclusive\neconomic. Moral rights to performers, similar membership rights in Copyright\nsocieties for authors &amp; other owners&#8217; rights. Further, the exception of\nCopyrights for physically disabled to access any works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Post-Independence_History_of_Copyright_Law_in_India\"><\/span>Post-Independence History of Copyright Law in India<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nCopyright Act, 1957, came into action on 21<sup>st<\/sup> January 1958,\nreplacing the 1911 Copyright Act. The Act, besides changing the Copyright Law,\nhas also announced milestones changes such as provisions for establishing\nCopyright Office under the Copyright Registrar control for the registration of\nbooks &amp; other artworks. It is also set up a Copyright Board to deal with\nthe disputes concerning Copyright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following\nare some amendments made in the Copyright Laws (Amendment) Act, 2012 comes\nunder the significant classified into:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol><li>WPPT and WCT Concerning\nAmendment to Rights;<\/li><li>Amendments Providing Access to\nWorks;<\/li><li>Reform of Copyright Board and\nother Minor Amendments;<\/li><li>Author-friendly Amendments on\nthe Assignment and Licenses Mode;<\/li><li>Amendments to Rights in\nCinematograph Films, Artistic Works, and Sound Recordings;<\/li><li>Strengthening Enforcement &amp;\nProtecting against Internet Piracy.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The history of Copyright Law is a complicated one. Even after more than 100 years, it is in the growing stage. This is because technology is changing much faster than ever. With new techniques, the old laws seem to be falling behind, especially in the case of non-literal work. It is often tough to tell what is identical to the extent of Copyright Infringement as it&#8217;s a very subjective question. Therefore, we require more specific laws to reduce subjectivity.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"text-left\"><b>Read our article<\/b>:<mark style=\"background: #fffd03 !important;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/copyright-judgement-in-india\/\">A Complete Guide on Copyright Judgement in India<\/a><\/mark><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The history of Copyright Law is an interesting but long &amp; complicated one. The traditional knowledge is that the beginning of modern Copyright Law is associated with the print invention in the 15th century in Europe. Printing granted mass dissemination of ideas and information included in the literary medium at a comparatively low cost. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7089,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[19],"tags":[771],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7088"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7088"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7088\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7096,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7088\/revisions\/7096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7089"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7088"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7088"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swaritadvisors.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7088"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}