Actually it grew out of censorship and monopolies: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statute_of_Anne#Background
Cheap access came from the invention of cheap printing . The laws were passed to restrict it.
Cheap access came from the invention of cheap printing . The laws were passed to restrict it.
Making the avenue of creating for the average person also the avenue for the most income was huge in creating our modern literature landscape.
Evidence for this statement?
> If the only money is in private works for private libraries, that is where the quality stuff is going to go.
Evidence that this ever happened?
> Making the avenue of creating for the average person also the avenue for the most income was huge in creating our modern literature landscape.
That only leads to higher quality (as you claim) if your definition of higher quality is "what the average person buys".