PRIMARY SOURCES

ON COPYRIGHT

(1450-1900)

The Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance, Stockholm (1766)

Source: Kongl. Maj:ts Nådige Förordning, Angående Skrif- och Tryck-friheten. Gifwen Stockholm i Råd-Cammaren then 2. Decembr. 1766. Tryckt uti Kongl. Tryckeriet.

Citation:
The Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance, Stockholm (1766), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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Record-ID: sc_1766

Permanent link: https://copyrighthistory.org/cam/tools/request/showRecord.php?id=record_sc_1766

Full title:
His Majesty’s Gracious Ordinance Regarding the Freedom of Writing and of the Press; Issued in the Council Chamber, Stockholm, on 2 December 1766

Full title original language:
SW: Kongl. Maj:ts Nådige Förordning, Angående Skrif- och Tryck-friheten; Gifwen Stockholm i Råd-Cammaren then 2. Decembr. 1766

Abstract:
The ordinance installed the first legally sanctioned freedom of the press in the world and was preceded by decades of discussions, proposals, and investigations. The issued ordinance was a compromise between various interests; it was not the unlimited freedom of the press that many had hoped for. Prior censorship was abolished except for theological writings, but it was still forbidden to publish seditious libel, defamation, and indecencies. As long as the author was known and took responsibility for the written material, the printer could not be prosecuted, which was a relaxation of previous restrictions. Book import was still regulated. Despite these limitations, the freedom of the press ordinance meant an upswing, particularly for political pamphleteering, and several new printing houses were established.

1 Commentary:
commentary_sc_1766

Bibliography:
N/A

Related documents in this database:
1766: The Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance

Author: Adolf Frederick

Publisher: Kongl. Tryckeriet

Year: 1766

Location: Stockholm

Language: Swedish

Source: Kongl. Maj:ts Nådige Förordning, Angående Skrif- och Tryck-friheten. Gifwen Stockholm i Råd-Cammaren then 2. Decembr. 1766. Tryckt uti Kongl. Tryckeriet.

Persons referred to:
N/A

Places referred to:
N/A

Cases referred to:
N/A

Institutions referred to:
The National Archives of Sweden
The National Library of Sweden

Legislation:
N/A

Keywords:
anonymous works
book trade
books, protected subject matter
censorship
editions, new
enlightenment, the
immoral works
importation
libraries
penalties
privileges
privileges, printing
universities

Responsible editor: Marius Buning and Magne Klasson


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