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Sovereign Decree on the Book trade and the property of Literary Works, The Hague (1814)

Source: Bijzondere Collecties, Universiteitsbibliotheek van Amsterdam, Bibliotheek van het Boekenvak, archief KVB, inv. nr. KVB A 174

Citation:
Sovereign Decree on the Book trade and the property of Literary Works, The Hague (1814), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org

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            Chapter 1 Page 1 of 4 total



BULLETIN OF ACTS, ORDERS AND DECREES
OF THE
UNITED NETHERLANDS.

(No. 17) DECREE of 24th January 1814, No. 1, holding provisions concerning the Book trade and the property of Literary Works.

We WILLIAM I, by the grace of GOD, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Sovereign of the United Netherlands, etc., etc., etc.

Considering that the Acts and Regulations, concerning the Book printing and the Book trade,
introduced in these Urban Districts by the French administration, not only caused a most injurious obstruction for the Book trade, but also served to suppress freedom of the press completely, to prevent the progress of enlightenment, and to submit all to an arbitrary censorship, utterly contrary to the liberal way of thinking which each right-minded Dutchman holds in the highest of esteems, and which always has characterized the Government of these Lands;
Furthermore taking into consideration, that, before the annexation of these Lands by France, Acts were in force, the purpose of which was to reserve to every Writer and Publisher his lawful right of property, and that the restoration of these Acts (separately contained in the Official Publication of 3rd June 1803), in any case must be deemed necessary in the spirit of the present order of things;
Heard the recommendation of our Commissioner-General of the Interior;

Have decided and decreed:

Art. 1. The French Acts and Regulations, relating to the Book printing and the Book trade, including those which concern the Newspapers, as of this day, are abolished in full.
2. Consequently, the Inspectors of the Book printing and the Book trade are honourably discharged of their posts.


    


STAATSBLAD
DER
VEREENIGDE NEDERLANDEN

(No 17.) BESLUIT van den 24 Januarij 1814, no. 1, houdende bepalingen omtrent den Boekhandel en den eigendom van Letterkundige Werken.

Wij WILLEM, bij de gratie GODS, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Souverein Vorst der Vereenigde Nederlanden, enz., enz, enz.

Overwegende, dat de Wetten en Reglementen, aangaande de Boekdrukkerij en den Boekhandel,
door het Fransch Bestuur, in deze Gewesten ingevoerd, niet alleen in den Boekhandel eene zeer nadeelige stremming veroorzaakten, maar ook eene strekking hadden, om de vrijheid der drukpers volkomen te onderdrukken, den voortgang van de verlichting te beletten, en alles te onderwerpen aan eene willekeurige censuur, ten eenemale strijdig met de liberale denkwijze, waarop elk regtgeaard Nederlander den hoogsten prijs stelt, en die steeds het Gouvernement dezer Landen heeft gekenschetst;
Wijders in aanmerking nemende, dat, voor de inlijving dezer Landen in Frankrijk, wetten in werking waren, waarvan het doeleinde was, aan elken Schrijver en Drukker zijn wettig regt van eigendom te verzekeren, en dat de herstelling dezer wetten (bijzonderlijk vervat in de Publicatie van den 3den Juni 1803, in den geest der tegenwoordige orde van zaken allezins noodzakelijk moet geacht worden;
Gehoord de voordragt van onzen Commissaris-Generaal voor de Binnenlandsche Zaken;

Hebben besloten en besluiten:

Art. 1. De Fransche Wetten en Reglementen, betrekkelijk de Boekdrukkerij en den Boekhandel, daaronder begrepen die, welke de Nieuwspapieren betreffen, zijn, van dato dezes, geheel en al afgeschaft.
2. Dientengevolge worden de Inspecteurs van de Boekdrukkerij en den Boekhandel honorabel van hunne posten ontslagen.



    

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