Putting a High Priority into Perspective and into Effect
BY LESLEY ELLEN HARRIS
A Brief History
The U.S. copyright law has a history dating back centuries to 31 May 1790 when
the first copyright law was enacted under the then new U.S. Constitution. Books,
maps and charts were protected by that law. The Philadelphia Spelling
Book by John Barry was the first registered work, on 9 June 1790. Prints were
added to the statute as a category of protected works in 1802. In 1831, music
became protected; in 1856, dramatic compositions; and in 1865, photographs became
protected copyright works. In addition, general revisions of the U.S. copyright
law took place in 1870, 1909, and 1976. Throughout the general revisions of
the Act, and through minor revisions, amongst other amendments, a right was
added to create a category of derivative works including translations and dramatizations.
The right of public performance in music was established, and motion pictures
became a category of protected works, as did computer programs (in 1980).
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