On Thursday 21 November 2002 01:12 am, Edmund GRIMLEY EVANS wrote: > Thomas Bushnell, BSG <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > > I think the point is that "copyright" as a verb only makes sense in a > > > historical, USA context. Most countries have never had a requirement > > > or even a possiblity of registering things for copyright, as I > > > understand it. > > > > The OED lists "copyright" as a verb, going back as far as 1806. > > I think the first US-wide copyright law of 1790 did involve > registration. If this was also the first major copyright law to > involve registration
"It was the Licensing Act of 1662 which established a register of licensed books" http://www.intellectual-property.gov.uk/std/resources/copyright/history.htm - Derek > then it fits perfectly if the verb "copyright" > appeared shortly afterwards. > > I don't think the OED is on line, but if it is, I'd be grateful for a > URL. > > Edmund
