The History of Copyright:
A Critical Overview With Source Texts in Five Languages

This is the homepage of the forthcoming book "The History of Copyright: A Critical Overview With Source Texts in Five Languages" by Karl-Erik Tallmo, to be published by Nisus Publishing.

  
The book will contain a 50-70 page introductory essay in English (and maybe also in Swedish) about the rise of copyright and how people in different times regarded the role of authors and authors' rights. The bulk of the book will consist of important and hard-to-get source texts, e.g. from 15th century Venice, 18th century Britain, France and USA as well as Swedish legislation concerning freedom of speech and authors' rights from the early 19th century. All of it in the original languages, with comments and summaries in English.

The book is unfortunately very much delayed due to health problems. When the book is out, this page will be the place for Web links mentioned in the text as well as additional material that couldn't be included in the printed book.

If you wish to be notified via e-mail when the book is available, just send a message to

Currently at this site:

  • The Statute of Anne, published 1710, the first copyright law, facsimile of the original print.

  • Donaldson v. Beckett, Proceedings in the Lords, 1774.

  • J.G. Fichte, "Beweis der Unrechtmäßigkeit des Büchernachdrucks", 1793.

  • A few quotations from the history of copyright - Diderot, Kant, Fichte, Donaldson v. Beckett etc.

    See also:

  • The Misunderstood Idea of Copyright, by Karl-Erik Tallmo (Computer Sweden, September 2nd 2005)

    Karl-Erik Tallmo, Swedish writer, lecturer and publisher of the internationally acclaimed cultural web magazine The Art Bin (http://art-bin.com). Tallmo has written three books, including Sweden's first hypertext novel (1992). He has participated as an expert in governmental investigations on new media in Sweden, and also been a member of several advisory boards, e.g. at the Royal Library in Stockholm and at the Swedish Research Council.
    Please note that all information given on this page is preliminary, and there is no guarantee that the finished book will contain exactly the material that is presently being planned, nor is it certain that the cover that will be used is exactly the one above. Due to unforeseen circumstances the preliminary publication plans might be changed or even cancelled. If so, those who have requested release information, will naturally be notified of such a change of plans.