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Vintage Vanderbilt
Copyright in Historical Perspective
First published in 1968, Copyright in Historical Perspective remains one of the most important histories of early copyright traditions and laws. Starting in the late 15th century and going through the late 19th century, Lyman Ray Patterson traces the regulation of publishing in Europe and the United States and the threats to fair use and public domain caused by shifting understandings of copyright law.
- GenresHistory
270 pages, Hardcover
First published December 1, 1968
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 25, 2016
This one sat on my to-read shelf for years and years: obviously an eat-your-vegetables selection, and one that I have looked at with fear and admiration because of Lessig's intense Amazon review—one of only two the book has, by the way.
Anyway, I'm glad I did finally read it. It's a deep dive into the history much earlier than most copyright histories start, running from the mid-16th century until about the mid 19th. The last few chapters are interesting, from a new historical perspective: they were written about the then-ongoing copyright review process in 1968, which didn't culminate into an actual Act until 1976.
More than anything, though, the book tracks a story of the WHY of copyright, and the WHAT. Do we want to protect publishers, or authors, or the public, or two of these groups from the third? By carefully tracing policies, legislative actions, and legal decisions throughout the centuries, Patterson traces how these shaping forces have slowly—but surely—evolved.
Anyway, I'm glad I did finally read it. It's a deep dive into the history much earlier than most copyright histories start, running from the mid-16th century until about the mid 19th. The last few chapters are interesting, from a new historical perspective: they were written about the then-ongoing copyright review process in 1968, which didn't culminate into an actual Act until 1976.
More than anything, though, the book tracks a story of the WHY of copyright, and the WHAT. Do we want to protect publishers, or authors, or the public, or two of these groups from the third? By carefully tracing policies, legislative actions, and legal decisions throughout the centuries, Patterson traces how these shaping forces have slowly—but surely—evolved.
August 9, 2016
The seminal background reading on copyright history, particularly in covering the tradition of English common law and how it was imported to the US with the Copyright Act of 1790. Obviously, being written in 1968 (before even the current copyright law of '76 was passed) it's too dated to cover current issues, but there are plenty of books that cover current issues anyway. Patterson's strength is the period from the 16th century to the late 19th century, which has had much less written about it overall - and most who do quote Patterson. Essential if you're interested in the history of American copyright.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews