Licensing of the Press Act 1662

V. No Persons to print or import Copies of Books, Books, Indentures, &c. in which others have any Right by Letters Patent, &c. solely to print, without the Consent of the Owners;

nor bind or stitch such Books or Copies without the like Consent; Penalty.; How to be disposed of.; Limitation of Suit for the same.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That no person or persons shall within this Kingdome or else where imprint or cause to bee imprinted nor shall import or bring in or cause to be imported or brought into this Kingdome from or out of any other His Majesties Dominions nor from any other parts beyond the Seas any Copy or Copies Booke or Bookes or part of any Book or Bookes or Forms of blanck Bills or Indentures for any His Majesties Islands printed beyond the Seas or else where which any person or persons by force or, vertue of any Letters Patents granted or assigned or which shall hereafter be granted or assigned to him or them or (where the same are not granted by any Letters Patents) by force or vertue of any Entry or Entries thereof duly made or to be made in the Register Booke of the said Company of Stationers or in the Register Booke of either of the Universities respectively have or shall have the Right Priviledge Authority or Allowance solely to print without the consent of the Owner or Owners of such Booke or Bookes Copy or Copies Form or Forms of such blanck Bills nor shall binde stitch or put to Sale any such Booke or Books or part of any [X1 such] Booke or Books Form or Forms without the like consent upon pain of losse and forfeiture of the same and of being proceeded against as an Offender against this present Act and upon the further penalty and forfeiture of Six shillings eight pence for every such Booke or Books or part of such Booke or Bookes Copy or Copies or Form or Forms of any such blanck Bills or Indentures so imprinted or imported bound stitched or put to sale The Moyetie of which said Forfeiture & Forfeitures shall be to the use of our Soveraigne Lord the King His Heires and Successors and the other Moyety to the use of the Owner or Owners Proprietor or Proprietors of such Copy or Copies Booke or Bookes or Form of such blank Bills or Indentures if he or they shall sue for the same within Six moneths next after such imprinting importing binding stitching or putting to Sale And in default of such Suit by the Owner or Owners Proprietor or Proprietors commenced within the said Six moneths Then the same Moyety shall be to the use and behoofe of such other person or persons as within the space of one yeare next after the said Offence committed shall sue for the same to be recovered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of his Majesties Courts of Record held att Westminster called the Kings Bench Common Pleas or Exchequer wherein no Essoign Wager of Law or Protection shall be allowed to the Defendant or Defendants

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.