This is a freely-accessible, publicly-funded digital archive that collects together significant documents relating to the history of copyright law and practice. The documents have been selected by national editors, with the input of an editorial advisory board. Key documents are, where appropriate, transcribed and translated. The editors have written commentaries, explaining the reasons for selecting documents and their significance. The project was launched in 2008, initially funded by the AHRC in relation to 5 countries. Since 2024 it is supported by the AHRC as UK research infrastructure. The archive now extends to more than 20 (including historical and religious) jurisdictions and over 700 primary source documents. They can be browsed by date/language/jurisdiction, or searched.
1507* | Eloy d'Amerval's privilege Commentary: [1] |
1515* | Galliot Du Pré's Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1530* | La Fleur de la science de pourtraicture |
1531 | Francis I's letter patent to Pierre Attaignant |
1547* | French Censorship Act Commentary: [1] |
1551 | French Censorship Act |
1552* | General privilege granted to Adrien Le Roy and Robert Ballard Commentary: [1] |
1586* | Simon Marion's plea on privileges Commentary: [1] |
1607 | General privilege granted to Pierre Ballard |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1649 | Book trade regulations |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1656* | Privilege du Roy [Charles Le Brun] |
1660* | Decree on Engravings |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1676* | Decree on Sculptures |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1701* | Royal letters patent Commentary: [1] |
1714 | Decree on Fine Arts |
1744* | Code de la Librairie Commentary: [1] |
1725 | French book trade regulations |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1749* | Crébillon case Commentary: [1] |
1759* | Sieur d'Anville's contract Commentary: [1] |
1761* | La Fontaine case Commentary: [1] |
1762* | Royal declaration on privileges granted to inventors Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Diderot's Letter on the book trade Commentary: [1] |
1764 | Parisian Booksellers memorandum |
1770 | Avis aux gens de lettres |
1770* | Luneau de Boisjermain's case |
1776* | Fragments on the Freedom of the Press Commentary: [1] |
1777* | Royal declaration on sculpture and painting |
1777* | French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges Commentary: [1] |
1777* | Linguet's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1778 | Decree on counterfeitings |
1779 | Séguier's report |
1780 | Beaumarchais's report |
1780 | Decree on Dramatic Literary Property |
1780* | Dramatic Act |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1790* | Sieyès' report Commentary: [1] |
1790 | Boufflers' report |
1791* | Le Chapelier's report Commentary: [1] |
1791* | Report of François Hell to the National Assembly Commentary: [1] |
1791 | Beaumarchais's petition |
1790* | Petition by the printmakers and proprietors of copperplates to the National Assembly, May |
1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1794* | Petition by citizen makers of plaster casts to the National Convention, 3rd March |
1810 | Imperial decree on the book trade |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1814* | Court of Cassation on compilations Commentary: [1] |
1825 | Merlin on counterfeiting |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1828 | Court of Appeal on moral rights |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1841 | Court of Cassation on artistic property |
1842* | Court of Cassation on artistic property Commentary: [1] |
1844 | Act on the property right of playwrights' widows and children |
1845 | Court of Appeal on right of publication |
1845* | Court of Appeal on translations Commentary: [1] |
1851* | SACEM's act of constitution |
1852* | French International Copyright Act |
1853 | Court of Cassation on translations |
1854 | Literary and Artistic Property Act |
1857* | Court of cassation on originality |
1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news Commentary: [1] |
1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1866 | Reports of Riché, Perras, Sainte-Beuve. |
1866* | Literary and artistic property act |
1867* | Cour de Cassation on moral rights |
1869* | Court of Cassation on originality Commentary: [1] |
1872 | Morillot on the personal right of publication |
1878* | Morillot on the author's right |
1887 | Court of Cassation on international copyright |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |