 In his decision , Hartwicke went counter to the prevailing view that the Statute of Anne should be interpreted very strictly , proclaiming , " I am quite of a different opinion , and that it ought to receive a liberal construction , for it is far from being a monopoly , as it is intended to secure the property of books in the authors themselves , or the purchasers of the copy , as some recompense for their pains and labour in such works as may be of use to the learned world . " 
