Enactment of Statute of Anne

Date: April 5, 1710 • Location: London, United Kingdom

The Statute of Anne, the first legislation in Great Britain providing for copyright regulated by the government and courts, received royal assent and entered into force five days later.

The Statute of Anne, also known as the Copyright Act 1709 or the Copyright Act 1710, was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed in 1710, which was the first statute to provide for copyright regulated by the government and courts, rather than by private parties.