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.
1546* | Privilege Granted to Enea Vico (Parmigiano) (Italy) |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers (France) Commentary: [1] |
1709 | More Reasons Humbly Offer'd for the Bill for the Encouragement of Learning (United Kingdom) |
1725-1726* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum (France) Commentary: [1] |
1737* | Baller v. Watson: Entry from the Court's Book of Orders (United Kingdom) Commentary: [1] |
1762* | Royal declaration on privileges granted to inventors (France) Commentary: [1] |
1769* | Millar v. Taylor (United Kingdom) Commentary: [1] |
1774 | Hargrave's Argument in Defence of Literary Property (United Kingdom) |
1774 | The Pleadings of the Counsel before the House (United Kingdom) |
1777* | French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges (France) Commentary: [1] |
1777* | Linguet's memorandum (France) Commentary: [1] |
1778* | Pluquet's letters (France) Commentary: [1] |
1780* | 'Pezzana e Consorti' case: supporting documents (Italy) |
1780 | Venetian Reprint of the French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges (Italy) |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission (France) |
1826 | Letter from Noah Webster to Daniel Webster (United States) |
1826 | Letter from Daniel Webster to Noah Webster (United States) |
1828* | Maugham's Treatise (United Kingdom) Commentary: [1] |
1831* | Copyright Act (United States) Commentary: [1] |
1834* | Wheaton v. Peters (United States) |
1834* | Wheaton v. Peters Independent Report (United States) |
1838 | Address of Certain Authors (United States) |
1840 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (4 Feb.) (United Kingdom) |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property (France) |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright (Spain) |
1860* | Nathanson Ruling in Matter of Yoreh De'ah (Jewish Law) Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' (France) |
1878* | Morillot on the author's right (France) |
1878 | Royal Commission on Copyright: Minutes of Evidence (United Kingdom) |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise (Spain) Commentary: [1] |
1890 | Report on H.R. 10881 (United States) |
1899* | Schmelkes Responsum (Jewish Law) Commentary: [1] |