Beginning of the Idea of Copyright

After the introduction of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg at the end of the fifteenth century, the idea of copyright began to evolve in England. The trade of stationers (publishers) became profitable. Stationers looked for ways to increase and protect their trade. A particular publisher was given the right to copy a particular work. This regulated who could publish certain books. This was not a protection for the author since he was not a member of the Company of Stationers. It was a protection for publishers against rival publishers. This right was given to the stationers by royal charter and was perpetual. In 1692, the Licensing Act expired. It had turned into a way to control the press by the stationers, so the House of Commons refused to renew it. Thus the tightly regulated stationer's monopoly became open to anyone who wanted to publish books.

Reference

Ewing, J. (n.d.) Copyright and authors. First Monday 8(10). Retrieved October 4, 2008, from http://www.firstmonday.org/Issues/issue8_10/ewing