Publishing, the Rules of the Trade

Law n°49-956 of July 16, 1949 on publications for the young

Journal officiel de la République française, July 19 1949, Légifrance

As a member of the house said during a parliamentary debate, the law of July 16, 1949 is intended to ‘ensure sufficient guarantees concerning the morality and the patriotism of those who wish to produce publications for the young’. Article 14, introduced by amendment, extends the possibilities of prosecution to cover all writings, of whatever nature, clearly revealing that the control of publications intended for the young reaches beyond the question of protecting young people. In 1954, an addendum condemns publications inciting or maintaining ‘ethnic prejudice’. Three things threaten publishers found guilty: a ban from selling to young people, displaying or advertising their publication. This law, with a wide area of application, was contested. It confines the publisher’s activity within a restricted framework, even to the point of obliging a publisher, once condemned, to present their books before putting them on sale (prior approval). It was a key instrument of the repressive arsenal until the 1980s, when, widely contested, this administrative censorship became obsolete.

Law n°49-956 of July 16, 1949 on publications for the young

Journal officiel de la République française, July 19 1949, Légifrance

As a member of the house said during a parliamentary debate, the law of July 16, 1949 is intended to ‘ensure sufficient guarantees concerning the morality and the patriotism of those who wish to produce publications for the young’. Article 14, introduced by amendment, extends the possibilities of prosecution to cover all writings, of whatever nature, clearly revealing that the control of publications intended for the young reaches beyond the question of protecting young people. In 1954, an addendum condemns publications inciting or maintaining ‘ethnic prejudice’. Three things threaten publishers found guilty: a ban from selling to young people, displaying or advertising their publication. This law, with a wide area of application, was contested. It confines the publisher’s activity within a restricted framework, even to the point of obliging a publisher, once condemned, to present their books before putting them on sale (prior approval). It was a key instrument of the repressive arsenal until the 1980s, when, widely contested, this administrative censorship became obsolete.

Law n°49-956 of July 16, 1949 on publications for the young

Journal officiel de la République française, July 19, Légifrance

As a member of the house said during a parliamentary debate, the law of July 16, 1949 is intended to ‘ensure sufficient guarantees concerning the morality and the patriotism of those who wish to produce publications for the young’. Article 14, introduced by amendment, extends the possibilities of prosecution to cover all writings, of whatever nature, clearly revealing that the control of publications intended for the young reaches beyond the question of protecting young people. In 1954, an addendum condemns publications inciting or maintaining ‘ethnic prejudice’. Three things threaten publishers found guilty: a ban from selling to young people, displaying or advertising their publication. This law, with a wide area of application, was contested. It confines the publisher’s activity within a restricted framework, even to the point of obliging a publisher, once condemned, to present their books before putting them on sale (prior approval). It was a key instrument of the repressive arsenal until the 1980s, when, widely contested, this administrative censorship became obsolete