Question

What was the significance of the landmark; Donaldson v. Beckett; case in England?

a) Established the concept of fair use.
b) Expanded the scope of patent protection.
c) Limited the duration of copyright protection.
d) Introduced the idea of public domain.

Answer 1

The Donaldson v. Beckett case is significant because it introduced the concept of the public domain, clarifying that copyright is not a perpetual right and has a limited duration in England.

Step-by-step explanation:

The significance of the landmark case Donaldson v. Beckett in England was that it introduced the idea of the public domain. In this case, the House of Lords ruled that copyright was not a perpetual right under common law. As such, it helped shape the understanding that copyright protection had a limited duration, after which works would enter the public domain and be free for public use. This case did not establish the concept of fair use, expand the scope of patent protection, or limit the duration of copyright protection directly, but rather clarified copyright terms and reinforced the notion that after a certain period, works would not be monopolized by copyright holders.