Copyright Act of 1831

Copyright Act of 1831
Great Seal of the United States
Long title An Act to Amend the Several Acts Respecting Copyrights
Effective February 3, 1831
Citations
Statutes at Large 4 Stat. 436
Legislative history
United States Supreme Court cases

The Copyright Act of 1831 was the first general revision to United States copyright law. The bill is largely the result of lobbying efforts by American lexicographer Noah Webster.

The key changes in the Act included:

  • Extension of the original copyright term from 14 years to 28 years, with an option to renew the copyright for another 14 years
  • Addition of musical compositions to the list of statutorily protected works (though this protection only extended to reproductions of compositions in printed form; the public performance right was not recognized until later)
  • Extension of the statute of limitations on copyright actions from one year to two
  • Changes in copyright formality requirements

Amendments

The law was amended a number of times for a wide variety of purposes.[1]

  • In 1834, Congress allowed a copyright to be transferred to someone else, a record of which had to be made within 60 days.[1]
  • In 1846, Congress established the requirement of depositing copies of the work at the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian, in addition to the copies already required to be deposited with the Secretary of State.[1]
  • In 1855, Congress provided free postage for sending works to be deposited.[1]
  • In 1856, copyright was expanded to the right to restrict public performance of a work.[1]
  • In 1859, the requirement of depositing copies of the work at the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian was repealed.[1]
  • In 1861, copyright cases were allowed to be heard by the United States Supreme Court, regardless of the amount of money at stake.[1]
  • In 1865, photographs were formally made copyrightable,[1] following Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony.
  • Also in 1865, the practice of depositing a copy with the Library of Congress was reestablished, requiring deposit within one month.[1]
  • In 1867, the Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Spofford lobbied for a penalty of $25 for books that failed to be deposited within one month.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Patry, William F. (2000). "Statutory Revision". Copyright Law and Practice. The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.

See also

Further reading

Works related to Copyright Act of 1831 at Wikisource

  • Full text of the Copyright Act of 1831, as passed
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