jan 1, 1842 - Copyright

Description:

Godden states (p.155) that ‘painted patterns were copied at will’ with one pattern being used at several factories. However, to copy sculpted statues of figures may be more difficult as these could be covered by the Copyright Act…minor changes to the design employed to nullify the Act’s coverage. A letter from Minton & Boyle to Mr Yates of Cheltenham (Godden p.156) identifies this to be the case regarding a bisque figure of Wilberforce (image plate 135). See image of Wilberforce with book in hand.
In 1842 the Patent Office introduced their diamond-shaped mark to indicate that a design (pattern or shape) had been registered…therefore protected by copyright for an initial period of three years. See p.223 for a Key to Registration marks and dates.