Origin of Copyright

Our Constitution states that "The Congress shall have Power ... To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

The Intent of Copyright Protection

• is to promote the progress of science and the useful arts,
  • so authors get a mini-monopoly as one inducement to develop new work,
  • but copyright is limited when it appears to conflict with the overriding public interest of encouraging further development;

• is not to promote the author's own interests or increase the author's own wealth.