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Beaumarchais's petition, Paris (1791)
Source: Bibliothèque Universitaire de Poitiers (SCD) : Oeuvres complètes de Beaumarchais, tome sixième, Paris, Furne, 1826.
Citation:
Beaumarchais's petition, Paris (1791), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
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218 PETITION
taken in favour of mores did not relate at all to their property, neither giving it nor
taking it, but granting it to no one else. How dare one plead from a uniquely moral
phrase, in order to usurp a property? If such a law existed, that deprived authors of
the property of their plays as soon as they have them printed or engraved, no author
would have his works printed; there would be nothing left for public instruction; all
the printers and engravers would be ruined by this law. These sorry reasoners, who
direct the troupes and live off the talent of actors and of authors, would become even
worse off themselves; for, independently of the price of these works, that they could
no longer steal from the authors, they would have to have made as many copies by
hand, at three louis for the spoken plays, instead of twenty-four or twelve sous that the
printing comes to; instead of the eighteen francs that the play with engraved music
costs them, they would spend twenty-five louis for each score with separate parts.
This is when, Sirs, they would cry out loudly! This impolitic measure, having taken
the shape of law, would be fatal for all the Empire.
I believe that I have effectively answered all the false assertions of the directors
of our spectacles.
In presenting myself alone, I have destroyed in one word the futile appearance
of a supposed corporation.
No Transcription available.
Source: Bibliothèque Universitaire de Poitiers (SCD) : Oeuvres complètes de Beaumarchais, tome sixième, Paris, Furne, 1826.
Citation:
Beaumarchais's petition, Paris (1791), Primary Sources on Copyright (1450-1900), eds L. Bently & M. Kretschmer, www.copyrighthistory.org
Back | Record | Images | No Commentaries
Translation only | Transcription only | Show all | Bundled images as pdf
taken in favour of mores did not relate at all to their property, neither giving it nor
taking it, but granting it to no one else. How dare one plead from a uniquely moral
phrase, in order to usurp a property? If such a law existed, that deprived authors of
the property of their plays as soon as they have them printed or engraved, no author
would have his works printed; there would be nothing left for public instruction; all
the printers and engravers would be ruined by this law. These sorry reasoners, who
direct the troupes and live off the talent of actors and of authors, would become even
worse off themselves; for, independently of the price of these works, that they could
no longer steal from the authors, they would have to have made as many copies by
hand, at three louis for the spoken plays, instead of twenty-four or twelve sous that the
printing comes to; instead of the eighteen francs that the play with engraved music
costs them, they would spend twenty-five louis for each score with separate parts.
This is when, Sirs, they would cry out loudly! This impolitic measure, having taken
the shape of law, would be fatal for all the Empire.
I believe that I have effectively answered all the false assertions of the directors
of our spectacles.
In presenting myself alone, I have destroyed in one word the futile appearance
of a supposed corporation.
No Transcription available.