A Look at Legislation That Protects Artists’ Rights

New economic and social relations in particular emerge in Mediterranean Italy. It is developed a competitive relationship, which creates a desire to produce new products and introducing new technologies. The first law on intellectual property is the Venetian law of patents and inventions in 1474 (early Renaissance). It resembles a patent law.

In 1623 it is created the first antitrust law by Francis Bacon. This law aims to restrict the privileges established by the monarchs, and though there is no effect, it is considered to be the basis of the antitrust laws. This law declared void all monopolies, except those in favor of authors of inventions. In its section VI the only monopolies that are allowed are the patents issued from the first and true inventor. The deadline is 14years. In Europe, the patent is for the first applicant. In the United States the rule applies to first who has invented.

After the victory of the bourgeois revolutions it is established new relations of production, freedom of economic activity and competition. It is created conditions for rapid technological development. The Frenches say they were the first to create a law to protect intellectual property. In fact it is all about 3 very short laws (one patent and two copyright) 1791-1794. But those laws had a very strong influence on Europe. They introduced the concept of intellectual and industrial property and proclaimed that the rights of inventors and authors are different kind of property – the real kind of property. Industrial Property – from the fact of the invention for the author occurs special property rights. Under certain conditions the author is granted a patent for a certain period (5, 10 or 15 years).

Since 1790 in the United States the Congress encouraged inventors by laws giving them temporary and exclusive rights to their writings and useful arts. The first law governing the protection of new machinery, equipment, production technology, unknown and unused to the request for a period of 14 years.

The various Germanic states adopt their own laws. According to the Customs Union of Germany between the separate German countries they must include in their legislation rules of regulation, under which patents are granted for new inventions and independent elaboration of known objects. There is opposition to legal protection of technological advances on the grounds that it is a remnant of the privileges. The first Common German patent law is from 1877, under which patents are issued after an examination for novelty and there was a duty to be used in the statutory period. Russia introduces a corresponding time protection in 1870.