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Le Chapelier's report, Paris (1791)
Source: N/A
Citation:
Le Chapelier's report, Paris (1791), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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5
general law on Performances [Spectacles], on the property of Authors, & on the duration which it
must have: finally it is necessary, since the matter presents itself, that you make some
legislative dispositions on the Performance police.
The Authors of dramatic works had to, as much & more than all writers, be
free in their choice of who represent their works & in the expression of their thoughts.
The public had to have the property of these masterpieces, which, more &
better than the conquests of Louis XIV, have illuminated his reign; & each have to be
master to seize the immortal works of Molière & of Racine, to try to bring out its
beauty & to have them acknowledged.
But the despotism which tarnishes [flétrissoit] everything, which casts its eyes
on all institutions in order to control them, has invaded this communal property, & has
made it into an exclusive privilege.
That was not surprising, since a vicious administration had transformed
everything into privileges, & that its unique system seemed to be to damage the rights
of all in order to serve the interests of some individuals, since the inquisition of the
tyranny was placed right alongside talent & thinking in order to choke the one &
hamper the other.
But what must be surprising is that there was a small aggregation of men
which still considered themselves to be owners of a privilege which gave them the
exclusive property of the works of all dramatic authors
No Transcription available.
Source: N/A
Citation:
Le Chapelier's report, Paris (1791), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | Commentaries: [1]
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
general law on Performances [Spectacles], on the property of Authors, & on the duration which it
must have: finally it is necessary, since the matter presents itself, that you make some
legislative dispositions on the Performance police.
The Authors of dramatic works had to, as much & more than all writers, be
free in their choice of who represent their works & in the expression of their thoughts.
The public had to have the property of these masterpieces, which, more &
better than the conquests of Louis XIV, have illuminated his reign; & each have to be
master to seize the immortal works of Molière & of Racine, to try to bring out its
beauty & to have them acknowledged.
But the despotism which tarnishes [flétrissoit] everything, which casts its eyes
on all institutions in order to control them, has invaded this communal property, & has
made it into an exclusive privilege.
That was not surprising, since a vicious administration had transformed
everything into privileges, & that its unique system seemed to be to damage the rights
of all in order to serve the interests of some individuals, since the inquisition of the
tyranny was placed right alongside talent & thinking in order to choke the one &
hamper the other.
But what must be surprising is that there was a small aggregation of men
which still considered themselves to be owners of a privilege which gave them the
exclusive property of the works of all dramatic authors
No Transcription available.