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Venetian Decree on Press Affairs, Venice (1517)
Source: Scanned from the manuscript held in the Venetian State Archives: ASV, Senato, Terra, reg. 20, fol. 58v-59r.
Citation:
Venetian Decree on Press Affairs, Venice (1517), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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2 translated pages
Chapter 1 Page 1
On the first August
It used to be the case that there was a vast number of printers of books here in our city
from which a revenue, by no means negligible, was exacted publicly and in private, in
addition to the benefit of the learned, who used to purchase those very books at less
expense than many [of these books] were printed. But verily from this time a practice
has prevailed, with the result that certain individuals who obtain privileges from Our
Dominion are preventing others from the path of printing the very same works;
Chapter 1 Page 2
1517, the month of August
there has been such an increase in the number of these privileges that it has been
necessary for many of said printers to go elsewhere, and because of which such
production has been greatly reduced: from which both a loss, public and private, and
also communal inconvenience has followed: further problems of an even greater
nature will undoubtedly follow, it seems, unless necessary provision is made;
Wherefore: it has been decreed that, by the authority of this Council, all privileges
which have been conceded by Our Majesty up to this day, to printers of books and to
others, whether they are able to print themselves, or put these works to print, in
addition to those which this Council has granted, shall hereby be revoked, and by
these revocations, let it be held, that those [revoked] privileges shall be of no binding
power, and let the printing of books or the putting of books to print be free from any
prohibition to all: and thus it is fair and equal without any other discrimination.
Following this, verily, let no privilege of any sort be able to be granted furthermore,
and let nothing be able to happen by any means, unless through this Council, and only
for books and works which are new and have never been printed before, and not for
others; and if it should happen otherwise, let [these privileges] be and be understood
to be of no validity. Moreover, if a [new] privilege has been granted in place of these
[revoked], this shall be understood not to be counted, unless two-thirds of the votes of
this Council have carried it.
And the present decree shall be published on the steps of Saint Mark and Rialto.
In favour 187 Published on the following day of the aforementioned month
Against 21 on the steps of Rialto and Saint Mark: proclaimed by Nicolaum Ricius
Non sincere 2
[Left margin:]
Ser Paulus Capellus eques
Ser Andreus Gritj proc
Ser Franciscus Bragaderim
Ser Franciscus Foscarus eques proc
Ser Andreas Triuisan eques
Absent: Ser Luca Trono
The wise Councillors
Ser Philippus Bernardus
Ser Aloysi Gradonic
Ser Pandolfus Maurodon
Ser Marcus Foscarus
Absent: Ser Benedicto del physio
The wise of the Terra Ferma
Translation by: Jonathan Mannering
Source: Scanned from the manuscript held in the Venetian State Archives: ASV, Senato, Terra, reg. 20, fol. 58v-59r.
Citation:
Venetian Decree on Press Affairs, Venice (1517), 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
2 translated pages
Chapter 1 Page 1
On the first August
It used to be the case that there was a vast number of printers of books here in our city
from which a revenue, by no means negligible, was exacted publicly and in private, in
addition to the benefit of the learned, who used to purchase those very books at less
expense than many [of these books] were printed. But verily from this time a practice
has prevailed, with the result that certain individuals who obtain privileges from Our
Dominion are preventing others from the path of printing the very same works;
Chapter 1 Page 2
there has been such an increase in the number of these privileges that it has been
necessary for many of said printers to go elsewhere, and because of which such
production has been greatly reduced: from which both a loss, public and private, and
also communal inconvenience has followed: further problems of an even greater
nature will undoubtedly follow, it seems, unless necessary provision is made;
Wherefore: it has been decreed that, by the authority of this Council, all privileges
which have been conceded by Our Majesty up to this day, to printers of books and to
others, whether they are able to print themselves, or put these works to print, in
addition to those which this Council has granted, shall hereby be revoked, and by
these revocations, let it be held, that those [revoked] privileges shall be of no binding
power, and let the printing of books or the putting of books to print be free from any
prohibition to all: and thus it is fair and equal without any other discrimination.
Following this, verily, let no privilege of any sort be able to be granted furthermore,
and let nothing be able to happen by any means, unless through this Council, and only
for books and works which are new and have never been printed before, and not for
others; and if it should happen otherwise, let [these privileges] be and be understood
to be of no validity. Moreover, if a [new] privilege has been granted in place of these
[revoked], this shall be understood not to be counted, unless two-thirds of the votes of
this Council have carried it.
And the present decree shall be published on the steps of Saint Mark and Rialto.
In favour 187 Published on the following day of the aforementioned month
Against 21 on the steps of Rialto and Saint Mark: proclaimed by Nicolaum Ricius
Non sincere 2
[Left margin:]
Ser Paulus Capellus eques
Ser Andreus Gritj proc
Ser Franciscus Bragaderim
Ser Franciscus Foscarus eques proc
Ser Andreas Triuisan eques
Absent: Ser Luca Trono
The wise Councillors
Ser Philippus Bernardus
Ser Aloysi Gradonic
Ser Pandolfus Maurodon
Ser Marcus Foscarus
Absent: Ser Benedicto del physio
The wise of the Terra Ferma
Translation by: Jonathan Mannering