You might find digging through "The Pamphleteer" (London, early 1800's) =
useful. The first mention of debates on copyrights, etc. that I've come =
across was found there. For example, Anon: "An address to Parliament of =
Great Britain on the Claims of Authors to THeir Own Copy-right" (Vol 2, =
1813, pp. 170-202). Also, Anon: "The Case between the Public Libraries =
and the Booksellers" (Same, pp. 341-68)
While not HET proper (as these essays were written contemporaneous to =
the events described), they do provide a setting for the early debates =
over intellectual property rights.
Hope this helps a bit.
John Henry