Statute of Anne

The Statute of Anne, enacted in 1710, was the first law to formalize the rights of authors and publishers by establishing copyright regulations in Britain. It granted authors exclusive rights to their works for a limited period, aiming to encourage the creation of new works while balancing public access. This law laid the foundation for modern copyright law, introducing rules for how long authors' rights last and how works can be published or reproduced, marking a significant step toward protecting intellectual property in the literary and creative industries.