Copyright has a rich history dating back centuries. It began as a means for governments to control the printing press in order to maintain authority over the dissemination of information. The concept evolved over time to protect authors and creators, granting them exclusive rights to their works for a limited period. The first copyright law is often attributed to the Statute of Anne in 1710 in England, which aimed to prevent the monopoly of publishers and to provide incentives for creators. Since then, copyright laws have been continuously amended and expanded to accommodate changes in technology and to balance the interests of creators and the public. Today, copyright laws vary across countries but generally provide protection for literary, artistic, musical, and other creative works, typically for the life of the author plus a certain number of year