Reasons for a Modification of the Act of Anne [and] An Act Passed..

1813. Problems with Copyright in the Early Nineteenth Century [Turner, Sharon (1768-1847)]. Reasons for a Modification of the Act of Anne Respecting the Delivery of Books, And Copyright. London: Printed by Nichols, Son, and Bentley, 1813. [ii], 60 pp. [Bound with] An Act (Passed 29th July 1814) to Amend the Several Acts for the Encouragement of Learning, By Securing the Copies and Copyright of Printed Books to the Authors of Such Books, Or Their Assigns. London: Printed by George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, Printers to the King's most Excellent Majesty, 1814. 12 pp. Octavo (8" x 4-3/4"). Later cloth, some fading to exterior, front joint cracked, rear joint starting, large chip to head of spine. Light toning to interior, light foxing and soiling in a few places, faint fold lines to a few leaves. $450. * Reasons: only edition. Formally titled An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, the 1710 Statute of Anne was the first in the world to create a system of government-regulated copyright. It initially granted authors a 14-year copyright term on every work registered at Stationer's Hall, which could then be extended for a second term if the author was still alive. The copyright deposit system required that eleven copies be sent to universities as well. Reasons for a Modification of the Act of Anne argues that the deposit system created a heavy cost burden on copyright holders and that they should be entitled to a longer term. It is attributed to Sharon Turner, a prominent English historian. The Copyright Act 1814 reformed the deposit system and set a copyright term of 28 years or the life of the author, whichever was longer. OCLC locates 8 copies of Reasons in North America, 1 in a law library (Library of Congress).