Final answer:
George Washington signed the first U.S. copyright law in 1790, establishing protection for various categories of original works of authorship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first U.S. copyright law was signed by George Washington in the year 1790. Copyright provided protection for original works of authorship, which included various categories such as literary, dramatic, and musical works, among others. This legislative milestone followed other significant events, including the creation of the Constitution in 1787 and the ratification of the Bill of Rights in 1791. George Washington, as the first president of the United States, played a pivotal role in establishing the framework of intellectual property law in the early republic.