Ronan Deazley Libri

The book explores the evolution of copyright law from the repeal of the Licensing Act in 1695 through the significant developments of the eighteenth century. It highlights key legal battles and societal shifts, culminating in the landmark House of Lords decision in Donaldson v Becket in 1774, which had a profound impact on authors' rights and the publishing industry.

"What can and can't be copied is a matter of law, but also of aesthetics, culture, and economics. The act of copying, and the creation and transaction of rights relating to it, evokes fundamental notions of communication and censorship, of authorship and ownership--of privilege and property. This volume conceives a new history of copyright law as fifteen leading academics discuss the changing state of intellectual property across time and between countries"--Publisher's description