or
Discontinue his Action, then the Defendant shall have and recover his
full Costs, for which he shall have the same Remedy as a Defendant in
any case by Law hath.

Provided, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be
construed to extend, either to Prejudice or Confirm any Right that the
said Universities, or any of them, or any Person or Persons have, or
claim to have, to the Printing or Reprinting any Book or Copy already
Printed, or hereafter to be Printed.

Page 6

Provided nevertheless, That all Actions, Suits, Bills, Indictments, or
Informations for any Offence that shall be Committed against this Act,
shall be Brought, Sued, and Commenced within Three Months next after
such Offence Committed, or else the same shall be Void and of none
Effect.

Provided always, That after the Expiration of the said Term of Fourteen
Years, the sole Right of Printing or Disposing of Copies shall return to
the Authors thereof, if they are then Living, for another Term of
Fourteen Years.

THE END

A Transcription from the Original Statute of Anne

The Statute of Anne

Page 1

Anno Octavo
AnnRegin

An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by Vest-
ing the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or
Purchasers of such Copies, during the Times therein
mentioned.

Whereas Printers, Booksellers, and other
Persons, have of late frequently taken
the Liberty of Printing, Reprinting,
and Publishing, or causing to be Print-
ed, Reprinted, and Published Books,
and other Writings, without the Con-
sent of the Authors or Proprietors of
such Books and Writings, to their
very great Detriment, and too often
to the Ruin of them and their Fami-
lies: For Preventing therefore such
Practices for the future, and for the
Encouragement of Learned Men to Compose and Write use-
ful Books; May it please Your Majesty, that it may be En-
acted, and be it Enacted by the Queens most Excellent Majesty,
by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and
Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled,
and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the
Tenth Day of April, One thousand seven hundred and ten, the
Author of any Book or Books already Printed, who hath not
Transferred to any other the Copy or Copies of such Book or
Books, Share or Shares thereof, or the Bookseller or Book-
sellers, Printer or Printers, or other Person or Persons, who
hath or have Purchased or Acquired the Co