• The first Copyright Act in the world:  British Statute of Anne in 1710.

​"An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by Vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or Purchasers of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned." 

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• Copyright comes the the U.S. in 1787.

"The Congress shall have Power ... 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." United States Constitution, Article I, Section 8.

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Helpful Resources:

• Brief history and overview of functions of U.S. Copyright and notable dates.

• U.S. Copyright Timeline providing a chronological list of most important copyright legislation and court cases.

• Quick view breakdown of important U.S. Copyright court cases.

• List of Copyright and Fair Use Cases.

• Interesting evaluation of copyright and the potential for a post-copyright world.

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