Question

Initially, to whom were copyrights given?

a) Governments
b) Religious institutions
c) Printers and publishers
d) Authors themselves

Answer 1

Initially, copyrights were granted to printers and publishers rather than authors. Modern copyright law as defined by the U.S. Copyright Office now ensures that copyright initially belongs to the creators of the original works of authorship.

Step-by-step explanation:

Origins of Copyright

Initially, copyrights were not granted to authors themselves but to printers and publishers. Early forms of publication involved authors circulating handwritten copies in private circles, which did not offer legal protection for their works. It wasn't until the advent of the modern concept of intellectual property in the early 1770s that some authors, like Alexander Pope, had control over their writings. The U.S. Copyright Office now recognizes copyright as a legal form of protection for 'original works of authorship' which includes a broad range of creations, and stipulates that copyright initially belongs to the author(s) who created the work.