Music Publishing, Copyright, and the 19th-Century Sheet-Music Market (c. 1800–1900)

1. U.S. Copyright Act begins federal copyright system

   May 31, 1790Labels: U S

   • Copyright Office
   • Copyright Office

2. French authors’ rights law enacted (Lakanal Act)

   Jul 19, 1793Labels: Lakanal Act, France

   • OpenEdition
   • Chopin Online

3. Chappell & Co founded in London

   Jan 1, 1811Labels: Chappell &, London

   • British Museum
   • Edinburgh Archives

4. U.S. Copyright Act revised; music added

   Feb 3, 1831Labels: U S

   • Copyright Office
   • Copyright Act 1831

5. Wheaton v. Peters rejects post-publication common-law copyright

   Mar 19, 1834Labels: Wheaton v, U S

   • Justia
   • Wheaton v Peters

6. UK International Copyright Act enables cross-border protection

   Jul 31, 1838Labels: UK International

   • UK Acts 1838
   • UK Acts 1838

7. UK Copyright Act consolidates law and covers musical works

   Jul 1, 1842Labels: UK Copyright

   • Copyright Act 1842

8. SACEM founded to collect and distribute music performance royalties

   Jan 31, 1851Labels: SACEM, Paris

   • SACEM History
   • SACEM

9. U.S. law extended to cover public performance rights

   Aug 18, 1856Labels: U S

   • Copyright Office
   • Copyright Act 1831

10. U.S. Copyright Act centralized registration at Library of Congress

    Jul 8, 1870Labels: Library of, U S

    • Copyright Office
    • Library of Congress

11. UK Music Publishers Association established

    Jan 1, 1881Labels: Music Publishers, UK

    • MPA
    • MPA UK

12. UK Copyright (Musical Compositions) Act reserves performance right by notice

    Aug 10, 1882Labels: Copyright Musical

    • vLex UK
    • UK Acts 1882

13. Berne Convention adopted for international literary and artistic works

    Sep 9, 1886Labels: Berne Convention

    • WIPO
    • Cornell LII

14. Berne Convention enters into force

    Dec 5, 1887Labels: Berne Convention

    • Berne Convention
    • WIPO

15. UK Copyright (Musical Compositions) Act amends performance-penalty recovery

    Jul 5, 1888Labels: Copyright Musical

    • UK Acts 1888