In Germany during the same period, publishers had plagiarizers -- who could reprint each new publication and sell it cheaply without fear of punishment -- breathing down their necks. Successful publishers were the ones who took a sophisticated approach in reaction to these copycats and devised a form of publication still common today, issuing fancy editions for their wealthy customers and low-priced paperbacks for the masses.

This reminds me of part of Chris Anderson's keynote speech at SXSW a few years ago regarding "Free". The lack of copyright in 19th Century Germany allowed "pirated" copies of books to be cheaply dispersed among citizens whereas in England books were a luxury targeted towards nobility.

One can argue the lack of copyright in Germany not only allowed for more people to read (that's a good thing) but also allowed for authors works to be read by more people (that's also a good thing).

This became motivation for authors as well - something Chris discussed in his keynote. The currency became fame and notoriety - an intangible worth some call social currency. This notoriety became a bargaining chip for authors who had become well known allowing them to demand higher cuts from publishers. Savvy publishers used authors' fame to sell versioned copies of their works much like we see today - hardcovers and paperbacks - to appease all potential customers at varying price points.

Fast forward to present day as the entertainment industry is using copyright to deter piracy. Interesting correlation?