Quote:
Originally Posted by Liviu_5
Enlightenment, 19th century nationalism and spread of literacy were the determinant features in the democratization of arts. Copyright's contribution while non-zero was most likely negligible for a long, long time.
|
They may have done more to spread it, but the Statute of Anne first gave authors ownership of their own works in Britain. Prior to that, the only avenue to publication was to sell all rights the printing monopoly. Everything afterward built on the premise that the creator held rights in the created work.