Copyright
.The law of copyright was made in 1814 (54 Geo. III. c. 156). It enacted that an author should possess a right in his work for life, or for twenty-eight years. If he died before the expiration of twenty-eight years, the residue of the right passed to the heirs.
By Talfourd’s or Lord Mahon’s Act (1842) the time was extended to forty-two years, and at least seven years after decease: for example, if the time unexpired exceeds seven years, the heirs enjoy the residue; if less, the heirs claim seven years.
⁂ In the first case eleven copies of the work had to be given for public use; by Lord Mahon’s Act the number was reduced to five: i.e. one to each of the following institutions, viz. the British Museum, the Bodleian (Oxford), the University library (Cambridge), the Advocatesʹ library (Edinburgh), and the library of Trinity College (Dublin).
