Noah Webster
Webster worried that his Grammatical Institute might be pirated. He had to seek copyright protection from each state.  At last, on May 31, 1790, President George Washington signed the United States’ first general copyright act into law. Later, Webster lobbied for an extended copyright law. He wrote “By this bill the term of copy-right is secured for 28 years, with the right of renewal … for 14 years more.  If this should become law, I shall be much benefited.”  The new federal copyright law was passed and remained in effect until 1909.