Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900)

www.copyrighthistory.org

Identifier: f_1725a

 

Commentary on Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum

Frédéric Rideau

Faculty of Law, University of Poitiers, France

 

Please cite as:

Rideau, F. (2010) ‘Commentary on Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum (1725-1726)', in Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

 

 

1. Full title

2. Abstract

3. References

 

1. Full title

Memorandum on the abuses practised by the booksellers and printers of Paris

 

2. Abstract

Following the status quo on the book trade code of 1723, in particular regarding continuation of privileges, the disputes about the monopolies of the Parisian booksellers were particularly poignant. The report attributed to abbot Pierre-Jacques Blondel denounced with a high degree of accuracy the practices of the Parisian booksellers aimed at excluding their counterparts from the provinces from the profit resulting from the publication of the most profitable works: faked counts of editions, speculations about the privileges and the works. Newer still, Blondel also described "vexations" which the authors themselves underwent in their editorial relations with their booksellers.

 

3. References

full commentary in preparation