Copyright History

  • England's Statue of Anne

    Gave authors and creators the right to publish and profit their work for 14 years with an option of renewal for another 14 years.
  • Article 1, Section 8, clause 8 of the constitution

    "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."
  • Copyright Act of 1790

    Following Britian, American authors and creators had the right to publish and profit their work for 14 years with an option of renewal for another 14 years.
  • An Extention

    Copyright terms extended to 28 years with the option of a 14 year renewal.
  • New Laws

    Music (1831), dramatic composition (1856), photographs (1865), and works of art (1870) added to the works protected under the copyright law.
  • Coptright Act revised

    Terms extended to 28 years with a renewal option of 28 years. Registration is required.
  • New protection

    Motion Picture (1912) and recordingand performing rights (1953) added to the coppyright laws.
  • Copyright Revision Act

    Extended copyright terms for works created on or after 1976 for 50 years after an author’s death. Registration is no longer required.
  • Digital Audio Home Recording Act

    Required copy management systems digital audio recorders and collection of royalties on sale of digital audio recording devices and media. It made it clear that it's legal to create tapes for private use.
  • Ammendment to section 304 of title 17

    Made copyright automatic.
  • The Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act

    Extended the copyright terms for most works to the author for 50 years.
  • The Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act

    Allowed non-profit educational institutes. to use copyright works.
  • The Family Entertainment and Copyright Act

    Imposed criminal penalties for distributing pre-relese work.