Page "Copyright" Paragraph 8

Copyright was invented after the advent of the printing press and with wider public literacy.

As a legal concept, its origins in Britain were from a reaction to printers ' monopolies at the beginning of the 18th century.

Charles II of England was concerned by the unregulated copying of books and passed the Licensing of the Press Act 1662 by Act of Parliament, which established a register of licensed books and required a copy to be deposited with the Stationers ' Company, essentially continuing the licensing of material that had long been in effect.