What did Edgar Allan Poe have to do with copyright?

Answer 1

Prior to the Berne Convention of 1886, there were no international agreements about copyright: works protected in one country, weren't in another. As Poe was starting his writing career, American publishers were making their money cheerfully pirating British works rather than paying for American ones.

Answer 2

Edgar Allan Poe was involved in controversies over copyright laws as he struggled to maintain ownership of his literary works and protect his intellectual property from being plagiarized by others. Poe's efforts to secure copyrights for his writing were often challenged, leading to financial troubles and legal battles during his lifetime. His experiences highlighted the importance of copyright protection for authors and the need for stronger laws to safeguard their creative works.