Skip to main content
  • Book
  • © 2014

A Short History of Copyright

The Genie of Information

  • Provides a brief but concise overview of the history of copyright?
  • Describes the origins of copyright laws, and their effect on information dissemination
  • Explains how technological innovation, far more than economic principle, have determined the shape of modern copyright law

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check for access.

Table of contents (15 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
  2. Introduction

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 1-1
  3. Origins

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 3-13
  4. Printing, Reformation and Information Control

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 15-22
  5. The Eighteenth Century: Liberty and Literary Property: Statutory Copyright

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 23-36
  6. The Nineteenth Century: Liberty and Literary Property

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 37-43
  7. Property, Copyright and Copyright Internationalism

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 45-61
  8. Statutory Developments and Recognition of Industries

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 63-69
  9. 1920–1940: Performing Right and Radio Broadcasting

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 71-86
  10. UNESCO, The UCC and Copyright Access

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 87-94
  11. A Right to Payment, Neighbouring Rights and the Merits of Copyright

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 95-102
  12. Dominance of the United States and Rise of Digital Economy

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 103-110
  13. Dissent and P2P

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 111-120
  14. Access and Networking

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 121-128
  15. The Meaning and Future of Copyright

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 129-136
  16. Conclusion

    • Benedict Atkinson, Brian Fitzgerald
    Pages 137-137
  17. Back Matter

    Pages 139-142

About this book

This book tells the story of how, over centuries, people, society and culture created laws affecting supply of information. In the 21 century, uniform global copyright laws are claimed to be indispensable to the success of entertainment, internet and other information industries. Do copyright laws encourage information flow? Many say that copyright laws limit dissemination, harming society. In the last 300 years, industries armed with copyrights controlled output and distribution. Now the internet’s disruption of economic patterns may radically reshape information regulation. Information freedom, a source of emancipation, may change the world.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Faculty of Law, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, Australia

    Benedict Atkinson

  • Faculty of Law, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

    Brian Fitzgerald

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access