Page "Statute of Anne" Paragraph 12

The rejection of the existing system was not done with universal approval, and there were ultimately twelve unsuccessful attempts to replace it.

The first was introduced to the House of Commons on 11 February 1695.

A committee, again led by Clarke, was to write a " Bill for the Better Regulating of Printing and the Printing Presses ".

This bill was essentially a copy of the Licensing Act, but with a narrower jurisdiction ; only books covering religion, history, the affairs of the state or the law would require official authorisation.

Four days after its introduction, the Stationers ' held an emergency meeting to agree to petition the Commons-this was because the bill did not contain any reference to books as property, eliminating their monopoly on copying.

Clarke also had issues with the provisions, and the debate went on until the end of the Parliamentary session, with the bill failing to pass.