 The case established the doctrine of fair abridgement , which allowed that abridgements displaying a fair amount of labour on the part of the editor , and that differed from the original published work in a significant way , could not be copyright violations . This in effect raised the <unk> to the level of an author . The decision did not define the exact parameters that would qualify a work as a valid abridgement . This distinction came with a later case involving an abridgement of Hawksworth 's Voyages , in a decision written by Lord Chancellor Apsley . This concept of fair abridgement eventually evolved through common law , initiated from Gyles v Wilcox , into the current concept of fair use . Hardwicke 's decision also added the exercise of personal judgement to the list of admissible defences against the charge of copyright infringement , adding to the growing case law establishing that British copyright would be based on labour and not on originality . The opinion advanced the position that copyright law should serve the public interest by promoting the creation of new educational and useful works , rather than focusing on publishing rights . The case played a significant role in the development of English copyright law . The United States federal courts have cited the case as recently as the 1980s . 
