The Story of The United States Copyright Law

How the UnIted States CopyRIght Law became a BIll

What is the Copyright Law?

DEFINITION: The United States Copyright Law governs the legally enforceable rights of creative and artistic works under the laws of the United States.

The Copyright Law is a federal law which is authorized by the United States Constitution.

Ariticle 1, Section 8, Clause 8 of the Constitution is also known as the Copyright Clause. The clause in the constitution states: "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."

Timeline

Who Influenced the Copyright Law?

In 1787, the was a Constitutional Convention. James Madison of Virginia and Charles Pinckney of South Carolina submitted proposals that would allow Congress the power to grant copyright for a limited time. Three years later the first federal Copyright Act came about. Which was just the beginning of the path to what the US Copyright Law has become today. Both proposals are the orgin of the Copyright Clause in the United Statse Constitution.

Outside Influences

Back in the 1700s, there were not many lobbyist for copyright because it wasn't looked upon as a big issue. The first copyright statute originated in the Kingdom of Great Britain. The Kingdom of Britain could be looked at as lobbyists for copyright. Even though their not in the United States, their copyright statutue ifluenced ours.

How It All Happened...The Copyright Act of 1790

James Madison and Charles Pickney introduced their proposals to the Congress so copyright would be granted for a lifetime.

Their proposals were sent to the House of Reps where they were looked over not one, not two, but three times!

We've considerd it. How should we decide on this guys?

We say it shall be passed! Move it along. How can we not pass these proposals. This law will do justice for all in the United States.

What does the Second chamber have to say about this?

After discussing with the committee and speakers, we have decided to take action on this Bill. Yea or Nay? Lets keep this going. We pass both proposals. Keep them the way they are!

So I guess it's my turn. I shall sign these proposals into law on this day, May 31, 1790. Have these proposals published in its entirety throughout the country ASAP! As time moves on, I'm sure that this law will grow and become more broad in terms of what it can protect.

The Copyright Act of 1790 is an established law in The United States!

Took three years but it's finally here.

Yes sir. Now we can sit back and watch our law progress.

Today

Since 1790, the Copyright Law has greatly changed. The law has been renewed numerous times since it's original act in 1790. When copyright first was established as a law it was limited in terms of what it can protect. Today it protects almost any and everything that was originally created by someone else. Here is what copyright means today; Copyright is a protection that covers published and unpublished literary, scientific and artistic works, whatever the form of expression, provided such works are fixed in a tangible or material form. This means that if you can see it, hear it and/or touch it - it may be protected. If it is an essay, if it is a play, if it is a song, if it is a funky original dance move, if it is a photograph or a computer graphic that can be set on paper, recorded on tape or saved to a hard drive, it may be protected. This impacts the life of everybody in the United States. This law is more impactful then it ever was. Of course not all changes to a law will be looked at as something good. There are some people who might feel that the law is too strict. What people have to understand is that that is how the law should be. People's rights and work have to be protected from those who feel the need to take whats not theirs and potray it as their own.

The Copyright Act

Citations

http://www.copyright.gov/title17/

http://www.arl.org/pp/ppcopyright/copyresources/copytimeline.shtml

http://www.rbs2.com/copyr.htm

http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/students/medley/timeline.htm

http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Educational/Bill_Becomes_Law/Bill_Becomes_Law.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright

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