1 of 30

History of Copyright

*April 2020

This instructional module is not intended as legal advice. All Opening Up Copyright modules are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY-4.0) International license.

2 of 30

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Copy-what?!

Hello peasant, didn’t see you there.

Girl, no idea!

STATUTE OF ANNE

Copyright is increasingly important in our modern economy, but for much of copyright’s 300-plus year history it has been relatively unimportant for the overwhelming majority of people. So how did things end up this way?

Copyright effectively began in 1710 with the Statute of Anne in Great Britain. While the Statute of Anne was passed to deal with concerns of publishers over book reprinting, the preamble of the Act is notable. The Statute was intended as: “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.”

Wait a minute… that can’t be right. Copyright is to encourage learning? Isn’t it supposed to be about an incentive to create and promote economic prosperity? So how did copyright go from an act for the encouragement of learning to a modern economic policy?

3 of 30

Then

Now

Copyright Term

WHAT HAPPENED?

4 of 30

Statute of Anne

TRIPS

US Constitution

Berne Convention

Canadian Copyright Act

US Copyright Extension Act

Théberge

CCH v. LSUC

The Copyright Pentalogy

The Copyright Act Review

WHAT HAPPENED?

5 of 30

STATUTE OF ANNE

It Me!

1710

Protected for 21 years

after they were written

Protected for 14 years

after they were written

Copyright Term

STATUTE OF ANNE

6 of 30

US CONSTITUTION

1787

Copycats!

1790

US CONSTITUTION

7 of 30

THE BERNE CONVENTION

1886

1908

Copyright Term

Protected for 50 years after

the death of the author

Protected for 14 years

after they were written

Let’s just get along, ya’ll

Righto!

THE BERNE CONVENTION

8 of 30

The Copyright Act

1921

Copycats!

1928

Oh Haii!

Sick Berne, everyone!

The Copyright Act

9 of 30

TRIPS

1994

TRIPS

TRIP

elated aspects of

ntellectual

roperty right

S

rade-

10 of 30

US Copyright Term Extension Act

1998

Copyright Term

Protected for 50 years after

the death of the author

Protected for 70 years after

the death of the author

US Copyright Term Extension Act

I got you, babe.

11 of 30

Théberge v. Galerie d’Art…

2002

Théberge v. Galerie d’Art…

12 of 30

CCH v. LSUC

Purpose

Assessing Fair Dealing:

2004

CCH v. LSUC

13 of 30

COPYRIGHT PENTALOGY

ESAC v. SOCAN

Alberta (Education) v. Access Copyright

SOCAN v. Bell

Rogers v. SOCAN

Re:Sound v. MPTAC

2012

COPYRIGHT PENTALOGY

14 of 30

Copyright Act Review

2019

Copyright Act Review

15 of 30

CONCLUSION

16 of 30

CONCLUSION

Statute of Anne

TRIPS

US Constitution

Berne Convention

Canadian Copyright Act

US Copyright Extension Act

Théberge

CCH v. LSUC

The Copyright Pentalogy

The Copyright Act Review

17 of 30

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

You should now be able to:

Recall key events relevant to the history of copyright in Canada�
Understand how copyright has evolved, in particular from a means of encouraging learning to an economic policy

Understand how copyright’s history is shaped by the interplay of domestic and international factors

18 of 30

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

19 of 30

QUESTIONS

Copyright as we know it effectively began with:

A Statue of Anne of Green Gables
The Statute of Anne
The Berne Convention
The first cave painting circa 38 000 B.C.E�

The US Copyright Term Extension Act is also known as:

The Sonny and Cher-Dealing Act
The Mickey Mouse Copyright Term Extension Act
The Steamboat Willie Act
The Walt Disney Act

Copyright was originally thought of as a means of encouraging:

Learning
Harmony between governments
The dissemination of works
Compensation for creators

20 of 30

QUESTIONS

As intellectual property protection and trade became linked, the 1994 TRIPS agreement brought about greater international protection for copyright holders.

True
False

In Canada the future of copyright is:

Hotly contested
Subject to international factors
Something that will impact the way we all use creative works
All of the above

21 of 30

Bannerman, S. (2011). Canadian copyright: History, change, and potential. Canadian Journal of Communication 36(1) 31-49. Retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20180310085304/https://www.cjc-online.ca/index.php/journal/article/view/2321/2938

Bogsch, A. (1986). The first hundred years of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works. International Bureau of Intellectual Property. WIPO. Retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20200316213331/https://www.wipo.int/edocs/pubdocs/en/copyright/877/wipo_pub_877.pdf

FixCopyright. (2016). Copy (aka Copyright) tells the story of his life [Video]. CC BY. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fdUDecJ6jc

Schlackman, S. (2014). How Mickey Mouse keeps changing copyright law. Artrepreneur Art Law Journal. Retrieved from: (https://web.archive.org/web/20200116090232/https://alj.artrepreneur.com/mickey-mouse-keeps-changing-copyright-law/

��

REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

22 of 30

8 Ann. c. 21

1 Statutes at Large, 124

The Copyright Act, 1921

Théberge v. Galerie d’Art du Petit Champlain inc., [2002] 2 S.C.R. 336, 2002 SCC 34

Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada v. Bell Canada, 2012 SCC 36, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 326

Alberta (Education) v. Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright), 2012 SCC 37, [2012] 2 S.C.R 345

Rogers Communications Inc. v. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 2012 SCC 35, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 283

Entertainment Software Association v. Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada, 2012 SCC 34, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 231

Re:Sound v. Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada, 2012 SCC 38, [2012] 2 S.C.R. 376

CASES AND LEGISLATION

23 of 30

IMAGE AND SOUND REFERENCES

Clckr- Free- Vector Images. (n.d.). Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/copyright-copywrite-36078/

Mohammad_hassan. (n.d.). Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/money-icon-dollar-giving-badge-3614661/

Patrick Tomasso. (n.d.). Pixabay. https://unsplash.com/photos/Oaqk7qqNh_c

Antonia Reeve. (n.d.). Queen Anne when Princes of Denmark, 1665-1714. National Galleries Scotland. CC BY NC. https://www.nationalgalleries.org/art-and-artists/1738/queen-anne-when-princess-denmark-1665

Jan Antoon Garemijn. (1778). The Pandreitje in Bruges. Wikimedia Commons.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jan_Antoon_Garemijn_-_The_Pandreitje_in_Bruges_-_WGA08468.jpg

“Statute of Anne.” Wikimedia Commons. PD. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Statute_of_anne.jpg

Plasterbrain. (2017). Tada Fanfare G. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/plasterbrain/sounds/397353/

Enshia. (n.d.). Book. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/icon/1787402/

ProSymbols. (n.d.). Art. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/icon/1976897

Atif Arshad. (n.d). Gramophone. The Noun Project. CC0. https://thenounproject.com/icon/1306170/

Montu Yadav. (n.d.). Broadcast. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/term/broadcast/201837

24 of 30

Priyanka. (n.d.). Viewing. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/term/viewing/1694590

Blair Adams. (n.d.). Drama. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/term/drama/953398

Shastry. (n.d.). DVD. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/term/dvd/2163746

Andrey Vasiliev. (n.d.). Film Projector. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/term/film-projector/336166

Michael Kaminski (n.d.). One. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=one&i=2010363

Michael Kaminski (n.d.). Two. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010370

[Betsy Ross American Flag]. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States#/media/File:Flag_of_the_United_States_(1777-1795).svg

“Copyright Act of 1970”. https://www.copyright.gov/about/images/1790_First_US_Copyright_Law_P1_8.jpg

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Three. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010367

Maadmacs. (2017). Horse and Carriage. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/maadmacs/sounds/388391/

Atif Arshad. (n.d.). Globe. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=globe&i=1299776

Joseph Ferdinand Keppler. (1886). The Pirate Publisher. Wikimedia Commons. PD. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Joseph_Ferdinand_Keppler_-_The_Pirate_Publisher_-_Puck_Magazine_-_Restoration_by_Adam_Cuerden.jpg

IMAGE AND SOUND REFERENCES

25 of 30

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Four. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010371

[Canadian Flag]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aQzFvb1VmDAhn1Jhx6GMxNhqDUqNtu73/view

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Five. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010369

National Cancer Institute. (1987). [A librarian at the National Library of Medicine]. Pixabay. https://unsplash.com/photos/OHx5zVsv_gY

Timbre. (2010). Transmoogrified Piano. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/Timbre/sounds/106978/

[WTO Logo]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VVDARTWr0MRCtdp4VNqyPP4PAmgV9wpS/view

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Six. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010368

Raul654. US Congressional photo of Sonny Bono. Wikimedia Commons. PD. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono#/media/File:Sonny_Bono.jpg

Jonathan Lutaster. (n.d.). Mouse Ears. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=mouse&i=315445

Reitanna. (2014). Giggle2. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/Reitanna/sounds/235167/

[Flag of the US]. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YO613AnLUiGwCZViqsV-_46d_nChlO3S/view

IMAGE AND SOUND REFERENCES

26 of 30

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Seven. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010366

Dig deeper. (2017). [Supreme Court of Canada]. Wikimedia Commons. CC BY 4.0. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Supreme_court_of_Canada_in_summer.jpg

Kick. (n.d.). Scales. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=scale&i=1320645

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Eight. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010372

Dezign, Ruslan. (n.d.). Target. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/icon/1005058/

ATOM, TH. (n.d.). Copy. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=copy&i=1474212

Тимур Минвалеев, RU. (n.d.). Percent. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=percent&i=397874

Farais, B, CL. (n.d.). Decision. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=alternatives&i=1074053

AFY Studio, ID. (n.d.). Leaf. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/AFYstudio/uploads/?i=1737325

Farais, B, CL. (n.d.). Decision. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/search/?q=alternatives&i=1074053

AFY Studio, ID. (n.d.). Leaf. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/AFYstudio/uploads/?i=1737325

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Nine. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010365

IMAGE AND SOUND REFERENCES

27 of 30

Michael Kaminski. (n.d.). Zero. The Noun Project. CC BY. https://thenounproject.com/kaliphast/uploads/?i=2010364

Clckr- Free- Vector Images. (n.d.). [Robot]. Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/vectors/robot-machine-technology-mechanical-312208/

Morganpurkins. (2016). Clang. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/morganpurkis/sounds/370245/

Wilhelboy. (2016). Lightringingclang. Freesound. https://freesound.org/people/wilhellboy/sounds/351372/

Closing Slides Music: Rybak, Nazar. “Corporate Inspired.” HookSounds. N.d. http://www.hooksounds.com (used under a CC-BY 4.0 Licence)

Unattributed materials are contributions from the Opening Up Copyright Project Team and placed in the Public Domain

IMAGE AND SOUND REFERENCES

28 of 30

University of Alberta. (2020). History of Copyright. Opening Up Copyright Instructional Module. https://sites.library.ualberta.ca/copyright/

For the project overview and complete list of modules please visit the project website at: https://sites.library.ualberta.ca/copyright/

Questions, comments, and suggestions should be directed to: ouc@ualberta.ca

This module is made available and licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Suggested Citation:

LICENSING AND ATTRIBUTION

29 of 30

Toby Grant

Copyright Office

Technologies in Education

Centre for Teaching and Learning

University of Alberta Library

School of Library and Information Studies

Adrian Sheppard

Amanda Wakaruk

Mireille Smith

Anwen Burk

Cosette Lemelin

Graeme Pate

Krysta McNutt

Michelle Brailey

Luc Fagnan

Julia Guy

Michael B. McNally

CONTRIBUTORS

30 of 30

Opening Up Copyright modules were initially funded through the University of Alberta, Centre for Teaching and Learning’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) with in kind contributions from the Copyright Office and the School of Library and Information Studies.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT