Copyright Law Day – January 1

The history of copyright law dates back to ancient times, with early disputes over the ownership of written works. In 6th century Ireland, a notable case arose over the ownership of the Cathach, one of the oldest Irish manuscripts. King Diarmait Mac Cerbaill famously ruled, “To every cow belongs her calf, therefore to every book belongs its copy.” This decision led to the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne, underscoring the significance of intellectual property even in ancient societies.

In ancient Rome, despite its grandeur, copyright laws were absent. Books were laboriously copied by literate slaves, making the production of books costly and diminishing the need for formal copyright protections. However, this lack of regulation left authors vulnerable to exploitation by publishers.

The invention of the printing press in the 1400s and 1500s transformed the publishing world, prompting governments to impose regulations. In 16th-century England, the Licensing Act granted the Stationers’ Company the authority to register all lawfully printed books. When this act expired in 1695, the absence of formal protection paved the way for the first modern copyright statute.

In 1710, the Statute of Anne was enacted by the English Parliament, establishing the first copyright law. This act granted publishers exclusive rights to their works for 14 years, extendable by another 14 years. Although this statute didn’t apply to American colonies, it laid the groundwork for the Copyright Clause in the United States Constitution. In 1787, James Madison and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney proposed protections for copyright and patents, which shaped the copyright laws we know today. Successive court rulings and legislative amendments have continued to refine these laws to address technological advancements and societal needs.