The Very First Copyright Trial, In 6th Century Ireland, Sounds Really Familiar | Techdirt

"Chris pointed me down a delightful rabbit hole trying to understand a — potentially apocryphal — story concerning what may be the very first “trial” over “copyright” taking place in the middle of the 6th century in Ireland, involving St. Finnian of Moville and a former pupil of his, Saint Columba — also known as Colmcille or Colum Cille or a few other names, depending on where you look. The story Chris pointed me to is in French, but it eventually points to an English version of the story (pdf — which, sadly, does not indicate an author!) that not only suggests that this is the first such trial over the right to copy a book, but reflects some of the same arguments we’re still hearing today. Though, luckily for everyone, when Jammie Thomas or Joel Tenenbaum loses their lawsuit, it doesn’t eventually lead to 3,000 people dying, as happened in this particular story...."