#but were *TR's* presidential statements uncopyrightable as of 1907?
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#the background to this is more involved than I’d expected#apparently the bar on federal government copyright only dates to the 1895 Printing Act#which was passed to stop the compiler of these volumes of presidential statements—James Richardson—from asserting copyright in the thing#but were *TR's* presidential statements uncopyrightable as of 1907?#not under the 1895 Act unless published by the government during his time in office—§52 only bars copyright in government publications#so the 1895 Act precludes e.g. copyright in the president’s messages to Congress (§73) and veto messages (by operation of Art. I § 7 cl. 2)#but—presumably—not privately published (i.e. reported) or unpublished presidential statements#(this was before the 1978 Presidential Records Act asserted government ownership over the president’s records)#and presumably not under the government edicts doctrine either#unless the statements were made in the exercise or discharge of the president’s powers or duties#(e.g. commands as C-in-C or directions as CEO or communications with foreign governments)#but otherwise? political speeches? speeches to the public? statements made outside congressional sessions? probably not covered!#so! 🥲 in fact and not just sardonically
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