The Engraving Copyright Act, 1766 — 7 Geo. III. C. 38
Preamble reciting Act 8, G 2.
An Act to amend and render more effectual an Act made in the Eighth Year of the Reign of King George the Second for Encouragement of the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Preamble Prints; and for vesting in, and securing to, Jane Hogarth, Widow, the Property in certain Prints.1665
The original Inventors, Designers, or Engravers, &c., of Historical and other Prints, and such who shall cause Prints to be done from Works, &c., of their own Invention, and also such as shall engrave, &c., any Print taken from any Picture, Drawing, Model, or Sculpture, are entitled to the Benefit and Protection of the recited and present Act; and those who shall engrave or import for Sale Copies of such Prints are liable to Penalties.
I. Whereas an Act of Parliament passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Second, intituled An Act for the Encouragement of the Arts of Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints, by vesting the Properties thereof in the Inventors and Engravers, during the time therein mentioned, has been found ineffectual for the Purposes thereby intended: Be it enacted, That from and after the First Day of January One thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven, all and every Person and Persons who shall invent or design, engrave, etch, or work in Mezzotinto or Chiaro Oscuro, or, from his own Work, Design, or Invention, shall cause or procure to be designed, engraved, etched, or worked in Mezzotinto or Chiaro Oscuro, any Historical Print or Prints, or any Print or Prints of any Portrait, Conversation, Landscape, or Architecture, Map, Chart, or Plan, or any other Print or Prints whatsoever, shall have, and are hereby declared to have, the Benefit and Protection of the said Act, and this Act, under the Restrictions and Limitations hereinafter mentioned.
II. And from and after the said First Day of January One thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven, all and every Person and Persons who shall engrave, etch, or work in Mezzotinto or Chiaro Oscuro, or cause to be engraved, etched, or worked, any Print taken from any Picture, Drawing, Model, or Sculpture, either ancient or modern, shall have, and are hereby declared to have, the Benefit and Protection of the said Act, and this Act, for the Term hereinafter mentioned, in like Manner as if such Print had been graved or drawn from the Original Design of such Graver, Etcher, or Draughtsman; and if any Person shall engrave, print and publish, or import for Sale, any Copy of any such Print, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of this and the said former Act, every such Person shall be liable to the Penalties contained in the said Act, to be recovered as therein and hereinafter is mentioned.
The sole Right of printing and reprinting the late W. Hogarth’s Prints,
vested in his Widow and Executrix for the Term of 20 years.
Penalty of copying, &c., of any of them, before the Expiration of the said Term; such Copies excepted as were made and exposed to Sale after the Term of 14 Years, for which the said Works were first licensed, &c.
III. And whereas William Hogarth, late of the City of Westminster, Painter and Graver, did etch and engrave, and cause to be etched and engraved, several Prints from his own Invention and Design, the Property and sole Right of vending all such Prints being secured to him the said William Hogarth for the Term of Fourteen Years from their first Publication, by the said former Act of Parliament; which said Property, by his last Will, became vested in his Widow and Executrix: And whereas since the first Publication of several of the said Prints, the Term of Fourteen Years is expired, and several base Copies of the same have been since printed and published, whereby the Sale of the Originals has been considerably lessened, to the great Detriment of the said Widow and Executrix: And whereas since the Publication of others of the said Prints, the Term of Fourteen Years is now near expiring: Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That Jane Hogarth, Widow and Executrix of the said William Hogarth, shall have the sole Right and Liberty of printing and reprinting all the said Prints, Etchings, and Engravings, of the Design and Invention of the said William Hogarth, for and during the Term of Twenty Years, to commence from the said First Day of January One thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven; and that all and every Person and Persons who shall at any Time hereafter, before the Expiration of the said Term of Twenty Years, engrave, etch, or work in Mezzotinto or Chiaro Oscuro, or otherwise copy, sell, or expose to Sale, or cause or procure to be etched, engraved, or worked in Mezzotinto or Chiaro Oscuro, any of the said Works of the said William Hogarth, shall be liable to the Penalties and Forfeitures contained in this and the said former Act of Parliament; to be recovered in like Manner as in and by this and the said former Act are given, directed, and appointed.1666
IV. Provided nevertheless, That the Proprietor or Proprietors of such of the Copies of the said William Hogarth’s Works, which have been copied and printed, and exposed to Sale, after the Expiration of the Term of Fourteen Years from the Time of their first Publication by the said William Hogarth, and before the said First Day of January, shall not be liable or subject to any of the Penalties contained in this Act; anything hereinbefore contained to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.1667
Penalties may be sued for as by the recited Act is directed; and be recovered with full Costs; provided the Prosecution be commenced within 6 months after the Fact.
V. And all and every the Penalties and Penalty inflicted by the said Act, and extended, and meant to be extended, to the several Cases comprised in this Act, shall and may be sued for and recovered in like Manner, and under the like Restrictions and Limitations, as in and by the said Act is declared and appointed; and the Plaintiff or common Informer in every such Action (in case such Plaintiff or common Informer shall recover any of the Penalties incurred by this or the said former Act) shall recover the same, together with his full Costs of Suit.
VI. Provided also, That the Party prosecuting shall commence his Prosecution within the Space of Six Calendar Months after the Offence committed.
The Right intended to be secured by this and the former Act, vested in the Proprietors for the Term of 28 Years from the first Publication.
Limitation of Actions.
General Issue.
Full Costs.
VII. And the sole Right and Liberty of printing and reprinting intended to be secured and protected by the said former Act and this Act, shall be extended, continued, and be vested in the respective Proprietors, for the Space of Twenty-eight Years, to commence from the Day of the first Publishing of any of the Works respectively hereinbefore and in the said former Act mentioned.
VIII. And if any Action or Suit shall be commenced or brought against any Person or Persons whatsoever for doing, or causing to be done, anything in pursuance of this Act, the same shall be brought within the Space of Six Calendar Months after the Fact committed; and the Defendant or Defendants in any such Action or Suit shall or may plead the General Issue, and give the Special Matter in Evidence; and if, upon such Action or Suit, a Verdict shall be given for the Defendant or Defendants, or if the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs become nonsuited, or discontinue his, her, or their Action or Actions, then the Defendant or Defendants shall ham and recover full Costs; for the Recovery whereof he shall have the same Remedy as any other Defendant or Defendants, in any other Case, hath or have by Law.1668