The History of Copyright

Question 1

What has prompted the evolution of copyright law?

Answer 1

Technology

Question 2

What is the WIPO?

Answer 2

organization that deal with intellectual trade

Question 3

What is the Harry Fox Agency?

Answer 3

handled mechanical licensing

Question 4

True/False: almost every country has some form of copyright law

Answer 4

True

Question 5

When did the US sign into the Berne Convention?

Answer 5

1989

Question 6

In ancient times, was there copyright law?

Answer 6

No, but there was still the idea that authors should have the right to control the use of his creations

Question 7

When did Johannes Gutenberg invent the printing press?

Answer 7

1436

Question 8

How did the printing press advance technology?

Answer 8

1. cheaper to produce multiple copies of works
2. gave public more access to literary works
3. gave issue to who owned and was entitled to profit from works

Question 9

What is the 21st century equivalent of the printing press?

Answer 9

Internet

Question 10

True/False: Authors commonly controlled their works in the 17th Century

Answer 10

False

Question 11

Who owned the books in the 17th century?

Answer 11

the publishers who bought them from the authors

Question 12

What was the purpose of guilds?

Answer 12

so printers and distributors could avoid competition

Question 13

Why did governments censor?

Answer 13

avoid religious and political dissent

Question 14

Why were monopolies instituted?

Answer 14

to favor publishers to agreed to not publish heretical or objectionable works

Question 15

When was the licensing act passed?

Answer 15

1534

Question 16

What was the purpose of the 1534 Licensing Act?

Answer 16

censorship

Question 17

What was the 1557 revision to the Licensing Act?

Answer 17

required al goods be registered at Stationers’ Company; another form of censorship

Question 18

When was the Statute of Anne?

Answer 18

1710

Question 19

What was the purpose of the Statute of Anne?

Answer 19

for the “encouragement of learning”

Question 20

What was provided in the Statute of Anne?

Answer 20

1. Can obtain copyright at Stationers’ register
2. Term of 14 years + 14 years renewal
3. Transfer copyright to a publisher, but then second renewal rights return to author
4. Infringement - printing without author’s permission
5. public domain at end of temr

Question 21

True/False: The Statute of Anne only applied to books

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Who campaigned for copyright protection in the states?

Answer 22

Noah Webster and Thomas Paine

Question 23

When was the first copyright statute passed and in what state?

Answer 23

1783; Connecticut

Question 24

How many states had passed copyright statutes by 1786?

Answer 24

12/13

Question 25

Where is copyright law found in the US Constitution?

Answer 25

Article 1, Section 8

Question 26

What is the purpose of the copyright and patent clause?

Answer 26

promote the progress of science and the useful arts. Primary purpose is to benefit the public

Question 27

1790 Act

Answer 27

1. provided an initial term of 14 year + 14 years renewal
2. limited to books, maps and charts
3. mirrored Statute of Anne

Question 28

What was changed in the Copyright Act of 1831?

Answer 28

1. initial term of 28 years
2. pass renewal to widow or children
3. protects musical compositions

Question 29

What was the purpose of the Copyright Act of 1909?

Answer 29

Theodore Roosevelt want to bring US copyright law in line with technological advances of the time

Question 30

What was included in the 1909 revision?

Answer 30

1. protected “all writings of an author”
2. renewal period : 28 years + 28 years renewal
3. protected only published works
4. unpublished works protected by common-law
5. compulsory mechanical license: reproduce and distribute sound recordings of musical compositions
6. Royalty rate: $0.02
7. No protection over sound recordings

Question 31

When was the 1976 Copyright Revision authorized?

Answer 31

1955

Question 32

When was the 1976 Copyright Revision passed?

Answer 32

1974

Question 33

What changes were made in the 1976 Copyright Act?

Answer 33

1. Protection
2. Preemption
3. Subject Matter
4. Ownership
5. Duration
6. Termination Rights
7. Formalities
8. Fair Use
9. Compulsory Licenses

Question 34

True/False: In the 19th Century, the US wanted to extend copyright to foreign works

Answer 34

False

Question 35

1976 - Protection

Answer 35

begins automatically when work is fixed in a tangible form

Question 36

1976 - Preemption

Answer 36

only federal law applies; no common-law

Question 37

1976 - Subject Matter

Answer 37

protects any original work of authorship

Question 38

1976 - Ownership

Answer 38

author is owner; can transfer less than full ownership; be split into shares

Question 39

1976 - Duration

Answer 39

life + 50 years

Question 40

1976 - Termination Rights

Answer 40

can terminate ownership transfers and regain full ownership

Question 41

1976 - Formalities

Answer 41

registration and recordation made optional

Question 42

1976 - Fair use

Answer 42

exception to copyright owner’s exclusive rights, giving others the right to use copyrighted works without permission in certain circumstances and certain purposes

Question 43

1976 - Compulsory License

Answer 43

increased rates; added more licenses to allow the use of works upon compliance with certain procedures and payment for specified fees

Question 44

How many times has the 1976 Copyright Act been amended?

Answer 44

30+

Question 45

When was the Berne Convention formed?

Answer 45

1886

Question 46

What was the purpose of the Berne Convention

Answer 46

each country agreed to give foreign works the same degree of protection as its law provided for domestic works

Question 47

1787

Answer 47

James Madison submitted to the framers of the Constitution a provision “to secure to literary authors their copyrights for a limited time”

Question 48

1436

Answer 48

Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press

Question 49

1710

Answer 49

Statute of Anne

Question 50

1790

Answer 50

Congress passed first US Copyright Act

Question 51

1831

Answer 51

first general revision of Copyright Act - music added, term extended to 28 years

Question 52

1886

Answer 52

Berne Convention - first international copyright treaty

Question 53

1909

Answer 53

Copyright Act of 1909 passed

Question 54

1914

Answer 54

ASCAP formed

Question 55

1976

Answer 55

Fourth revision of US Copyright Act signed into law

Question 56

1978

Answer 56

1976 Act became effective (gave people time to adjust)

Question 57

1989

Answer 57

US became member of Berne Convention

Question 58

1992

Answer 58

• renewal registration made optional
• works registered between 1964-1977 automatically renewed
• Audio Home Recording Act passed

Question 59

1995

Answer 59

Performance Right in Sound Recordings Act passed - established sound exchange

Question 60

1998

Answer 60

• Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act - life + 70 years

- Digital Millennium Copyright Act - required that CDs could not circumvent copyright recordings

Question 61

2003

Answer 61

MPAA - sued Napster and Grokster - not liable for copyright infringement