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3 translated pages

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BULLETIN OF ACTS, ORDERS AND DECREES
OF
THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS

(No. 16.) DECREE of 2nd July 1822, relating to the printing and publishing of state documents by individuals.

We WILLIAM I, by the grace of God, King of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, etc., etc., etc.

Taking into consideration that the property right of the State to all state documents thereof have been infringed upon by several residents, by printing and publishing manifold state documents, without having asked for, or been granted, permission by Us;

Given the Act of 25th January 1817 (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees No. 5), providing the rights which may be exercised in the Netherlands pertaining to the printing and publishing of literary and artistic works;

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(2)

Given the reports issued on this matter by Our Home Secretary and ministers of Water Management, of Finance, of Justice, and of Our Commissioner-General of War;

Having heard the advice of the Council of State,

Have decided and decreed:


Art. 1. Each and every one shall be free to reproduce in daily papers, news papers, and other periodicals, as well as in works concerning the history and politics of the State, all such state documents which are brought to the knowledge of the public in an official manner by order of the Government, as well as to print and publish these jointly or separately, unless the rights to the joint or separate printing, and to the exclusive publishing of such documents, are expressly reserved by Us for the purposes of the State's Printing House, or unless thereto may have been granted special licenses or patents by Us, without prejudice to previously, lawfully obtained patents or concessions.

2. The penal provisions against the reproduction of original documents contained in the Act of 25th January 1817, (Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees No. 5) could and should

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(3)

therefore only be applied to those who were to permit themselves the reproduction of such documents, for which We were to have reserved the rights to the joint or separate printing, and to the exclusive publishing for the purposes of the State's Printing House, or for which We would have granted those rights by special licenses or patents.

3. All the reservations for the benefit of the State's Printing House and all special licenses or patents provided by Us in favour of individuals, will be reported in the Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees.

Our Home Secretary, and ministers of Water Management and Justice, are responsible for the implementation of this Decree, which will be entered in the Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees.

Enacted at Het Loo, the 2nd of July of the year 1822, the ninth of Our Reign.

WILLIAM I

In name of the King,

J. G. DE MEY VAN STREEFKERK


Translation by: Miluska Kooij