PRIMARY SOURCES

ON COPYRIGHT

(1450-1900)

Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance, Stockholm (1810)

Source: Kong. Maj:ts Och Riksens Ständers Faststälde Tryckfrihets-Förordning; Dat. Stockholm den 9 Martii 1810. Cum Gratia & Privilegio S:æ R:æ Maj:tis. STOCKHOLM, Tryckt i Kongl. Tryckeriet, 1810.

Citation:
Swedish Freedom of the Press Ordinance, Stockholm (1810), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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            Chapter 1 Page 19 of 21 total



In cases of confiscation, the King's Governors and the respective Magistrates must provide assistance without delay and with responsibility in such matters; however, no confiscation may be requested from booksellers or other sellers for any publication unless it can be proven through evidence that the publication has been confiscated at the place of printing. Furthermore, the aforementioned individuals cannot be prosecuted for the content of any publication.

If any publication originating in this realm or imported into the kingdom from abroad is reported by one or more foreign diplomats or their governments as containing subjects that could lead to dissatisfaction with other powers, the King may, as he deems necessary in grace, ordain about it based on the nature and circumstances of the matter. He may, if he deems it necessary, through His Chancellor or Chancellor of Justice, take measures for the sequestration and confiscation of the publication, both from the printers and sellers or other distributors, in the manner provided earlier regarding confiscation. In all such cases, the official, who receives the King's gracious command regarding the execution, must promptly and without delay obtain the opinion of the Committee on Freedom of the Press concerning the publication in question.

If the Committee, which is not allowed to engage in any examination of political considerations and relationships, finds that the publication cannot be prosecuted according to the letter of the law, then no legal proceedings may be brought against either the printer or the author. However, for the distribution, the person who violates the prohibition shall be held accountable, in accordance with Section 4, paragraph 9. The King's gracious judgment shall determine whether the publisher or printer, in such a case, shall receive any compensation from the state funds for the cost of printing and paper of what has been confiscated from the edition."

If the unexpected event occurs that the Committee on Freedom of the Press is placed on trial, the case shall be taken up and decided by the Swedish Supreme Court upon the application of the Advocate General there. The judgment shall, immediately after pronouncement, be published at public expense, along with all related records and documents, for the

 



    


I frågor om qwarstad böra i sådant fall Konungens Befallningshafwande och wederbörande Magistrater owägerligen och wid answar biträda; dock må ej hos Bokhandlare eller annan Försäljare å någon Skrift qwarstad begäras, utan at, genom bewis, kan styrkas, at Skriften i Tryckningsorten blifwit med qwarstad belagd; äfwen som nyssnämde personer icke kunna för innehållet af någon Skrift med rättegång beswäras.

Warder någon af trycket härstädes utkommen, eller utländsk hit i Riket införd Skrift, utaf en eller flera fremmande Staters  Sändebud eller deras Regeringar anmäld såsom innefattande sådane ämnen, hwilka kunna föranleda til missnöje med andra Magter, äge Konungen, at derom, efter sakens och omständigheternas beskaffenhet i Nåder förordna, samt, om han så nödigt pröfwar, om Skriftens sequestrerande  och indragning, genom Des Hof-Cantzler eller Justitiæ-Cantzler, så wäl hos Boktryckare som Försäljare eller andre utspridare låta föranstalta, och hwarmed förhålles på sätt, som, angående beläggande med qwarstad, här framföre stadgadt finnes; Skolandes, wid alla sådana fall, den af förenämnde Embetsmän, som om werkställigheten erhåller Konungens Nådiga befallning, genast owägerligen infordra Tryckfrihets-Committéens utlåtande om den i fråga warande Skriften. Finner Committéen, som ej äger ingå uti någon pröfning utaf politiska considerationer och förhållanden, at Skriften, efter Lagens bokstaf, ej åtalas kan, då må ej någon rättegång, hwarken emot Boktryckaren eller Författaren anställas; men för utspridande bör den, som emot förbudet deraf bryter, til answar stånda, jemlikt 4. §:s 9. mom.  På Konungens Nådiga pröfning må det ankomma, om Förläggare eller Boktryckare må, i thy fall, til mer eller mindre del af Stats-medlen njuta någon ersättning för omkostnaden til tryckning och papper af hwad utaf Uplagan kunnat indragas.

Skulle den oförmodade händelsen inträffa, at Tryckfrihets-Committéen, med anledning af 108. §.  Regerings Formen, warder til answar stäld, uptages och afgöres målet af Swea Hof-Rätt, uppå åkäran af Advocat-Fiscalen derstädes. Domen warde, genast efter afkunnandet, med alla dertil hörande Protocoll och Handlingar, på publik bekostnad, genom trycket befordrad til

 



    


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