The Copyright Act of 1909 was meant to be a complete rewrite and overhaul of existing copyright law. As originally proposed in the draft of the bill, copyright protection required putting the word "copyright" or a sanctioned abbreviation on the work of art itself. This included paintings, the argument being that the frame was detachable.
The Copyright Act of 1909 sought a thorough revision and overhaul of copyright law. Initially proposed in the bill's draft, copyright protection involved placing the term "copyright" or its equivalent abbreviation on the artwork itself, such as paintings. The rationale was that frames could be detached.