Anti-Mormon Claim: Joseph Smith had himself as "Author and Proprietor" on the title-page of the 1829 editor of the Book of Mormon, thus proving he was the author of it and not just a translator.

Joseph Smith tried to get a copyright to The Book of Mormon in 1829, but was told he could not, because "Mormon" and not he was the purported author. Under New York State law at that time, translations could not be copyrighted. So, in order to secure the copyright, Joseph Smith had to put his name as "Author and Proprietor".

Why did Joseph Smith want to secure a copyright? Because Anti-Mormons have already published portions of The Book of Mormon in various newspapers, and others had published a "spoof" of The Book of Mormon called "The Book of Pukei" ("pyookee" meaning "vomit" in Yankee slang). In order to prevent The Book of Mormon from being disrespected like this, Joseph Smith needed a legal copyright, and in order to secure a legal copyright, he had to put his name as "Author and Proprietor".

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