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Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright , Madrid (1837)
Source: Archivo Histórico Nacional; AHN, Consejos, 11404, Exp. 026
Citation:
Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright , Madrid (1837), 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
Section 4
Circular
The complaints that several writers submitted to the august Queen in a
report dated on 4 February referring to the violation of the right of literary
property regarding dramatic works, have specifically caught the attention
of Her Majesty. The 24th and 26th laws of the Book 8th, 16th title of the
Novisima recopilacion guarantee and protect this property in general.
However the spirit of ignorance and preoccupation that, eager to
kill any source of enligthenment and life for the community,
consider the theatre with a patronising tendency as no more than a necessary
indulgence and treated it with distain and constantly disputed the application
of the aforementioned laws in favour of the dramatic art, an element of
civilization to which the prosperity of many industries is attached.
That is the reason why the right of property of the dramatic writers is
still ignored. The works represented in any theatre are frequently
reproduced in the rest of theatres in the Peninsula,* without prior
authorisation and knowledge of his author and even sometimes against
his will. This abuse does not only deprive writers from their property,
diminishing their just product of their labour but it is also the reason
why their works are represented defigured and counterfeited because of the lack
of fidelity in the copies furtively provided.
Informed Her Majesty of the need to stop this abuse,
She has decided for the Ministry under my charge to draft a bill that
declares, defines and assures the corresponding rights of literary property taking
into account all its peculiarities in order to submit it for deliberation by the
Cortes (Parliament).
But Her Majesty, who is pleased by the extraordinary flight that the Spanish
drama has taken in this era of freedom, that seems
4ª Seccion
Circular
Las quejas que en esposición de 4 de febrero último elevaron á la
augusta Reina Gobernadora varios literatores de esta Corte sobre
violacion del derecho de propiedad literaria en lo relativo á obras dramá-
ticas, han llamado mui particularmente la atencion de S.M. Las leyes
24ª í 26ª libro 8°, título 16° de la Novisima recopilacion aseguran
í protegen esta propiedad en general; pero el espíritu de ignorancia í
preocupacion que, ansioso de ahogar todo germen de ilustracion í
vida para los pueblos, no consideraba el teatro sino como una condescenden-
cia necesaria que le era repugnante, desdeñó í aun contradijo constan-
temente la aplicacion de las mencionadas leyes en provecho del arte drá-
mática, elemento de civilizacion, al cual está enlazada la prosperidad de
muchas industrias.
De aquí ha nacido que el derecho de propiedad de los escritores dra-
máticos se halle todavía desatendido. Las obras que se representan en
algun teatro, se ven frecuentemente reproducidas en los demas de la Pe-
ninsula,* sin preceder permiso ni aun noticia de su autor, í áveces contra
su voluntad. Este abuso se estiende no solo á privar á los literatos de su
propiedad, disiminuyéndoles el justo producto de su trabajo sino también
á que sus obras se representen desfiguradas í contrahechas por al infide-
lidad de las copias que furtivamente se proporcionan.
Penetrada S.M. de la necesidad de desterrar este abuso, se ha
servido resolver que por el Ministerio de mi cargo se forme un pro-
yecto de lei que declare, deslinde í afianze los derechos respectivos de
la propiedad literaria en todos sus accidentes para presentarlo á la
deliberación de las Cortes.
Pero S.M. complaciéndose con el estraordinario vuelo que
la dramática española ha tomado en esta era de libertad, que parece
Source: Archivo Histórico Nacional; AHN, Consejos, 11404, Exp. 026
Citation:
Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright , Madrid (1837), 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
Section 4
Circular
The complaints that several writers submitted to the august Queen in a
report dated on 4 February referring to the violation of the right of literary
property regarding dramatic works, have specifically caught the attention
of Her Majesty. The 24th and 26th laws of the Book 8th, 16th title of the
Novisima recopilacion guarantee and protect this property in general.
However the spirit of ignorance and preoccupation that, eager to
kill any source of enligthenment and life for the community,
consider the theatre with a patronising tendency as no more than a necessary
indulgence and treated it with distain and constantly disputed the application
of the aforementioned laws in favour of the dramatic art, an element of
civilization to which the prosperity of many industries is attached.
That is the reason why the right of property of the dramatic writers is
still ignored. The works represented in any theatre are frequently
reproduced in the rest of theatres in the Peninsula,* without prior
authorisation and knowledge of his author and even sometimes against
his will. This abuse does not only deprive writers from their property,
diminishing their just product of their labour but it is also the reason
why their works are represented defigured and counterfeited because of the lack
of fidelity in the copies furtively provided.
Informed Her Majesty of the need to stop this abuse,
She has decided for the Ministry under my charge to draft a bill that
declares, defines and assures the corresponding rights of literary property taking
into account all its peculiarities in order to submit it for deliberation by the
Cortes (Parliament).
But Her Majesty, who is pleased by the extraordinary flight that the Spanish
drama has taken in this era of freedom, that seems
4ª Seccion
Circular
Las quejas que en esposición de 4 de febrero último elevaron á la
augusta Reina Gobernadora varios literatores de esta Corte sobre
violacion del derecho de propiedad literaria en lo relativo á obras dramá-
ticas, han llamado mui particularmente la atencion de S.M. Las leyes
24ª í 26ª libro 8°, título 16° de la Novisima recopilacion aseguran
í protegen esta propiedad en general; pero el espíritu de ignorancia í
preocupacion que, ansioso de ahogar todo germen de ilustracion í
vida para los pueblos, no consideraba el teatro sino como una condescenden-
cia necesaria que le era repugnante, desdeñó í aun contradijo constan-
temente la aplicacion de las mencionadas leyes en provecho del arte drá-
mática, elemento de civilizacion, al cual está enlazada la prosperidad de
muchas industrias.
De aquí ha nacido que el derecho de propiedad de los escritores dra-
máticos se halle todavía desatendido. Las obras que se representan en
algun teatro, se ven frecuentemente reproducidas en los demas de la Pe-
ninsula,* sin preceder permiso ni aun noticia de su autor, í áveces contra
su voluntad. Este abuso se estiende no solo á privar á los literatos de su
propiedad, disiminuyéndoles el justo producto de su trabajo sino también
á que sus obras se representen desfiguradas í contrahechas por al infide-
lidad de las copias que furtivamente se proporcionan.
Penetrada S.M. de la necesidad de desterrar este abuso, se ha
servido resolver que por el Ministerio de mi cargo se forme un pro-
yecto de lei que declare, deslinde í afianze los derechos respectivos de
la propiedad literaria en todos sus accidentes para presentarlo á la
deliberación de las Cortes.
Pero S.M. complaciéndose con el estraordinario vuelo que
la dramática española ha tomado en esta era de libertad, que parece