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.
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1749* | Crébillon case Commentary: [1] |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1656* | Privilege du Roy [Charles Le Brun] |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news Commentary: [1] |
1790* | Petition by the printmakers and proprietors of copperplates to the National Assembly, May |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1790* | Sieyès' report Commentary: [1] |
1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1790* | Petition by the printmakers and proprietors of copperplates to the National Assembly, May |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1656* | Privilege du Roy [Charles Le Brun] |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1761* | La Fontaine case Commentary: [1] |
1770* | Luneau de Boisjermain's case |
1777* | French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges Commentary: [1] |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1790* | Petition by the printmakers and proprietors of copperplates to the National Assembly, May |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1676* | Decree on Sculptures |
1701* | Royal letters patent Commentary: [1] |
1761* | La Fontaine case Commentary: [1] |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1744* | Code de la Librairie Commentary: [1] |
1660* | Decree on Engravings |
1791 | Beaumarchais's petition |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1749* | Crébillon case Commentary: [1] |
1780* | Dramatic Act |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1791* | Le Chapelier's report Commentary: [1] |
1791* | Report of François Hell to the National Assembly Commentary: [1] |
1791 | Beaumarchais's petition |
1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1791* | Report of François Hell to the National Assembly Commentary: [1] |
1794* | Petition by citizen makers of plaster casts to the National Convention, 3rd March |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1866* | Literary and artistic property act |
1878* | Morillot on the author's right |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1780* | Dramatic Act |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news Commentary: [1] |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1845* | Court of Appeal on translations Commentary: [1] |
1853 | Court of Cassation on translations |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1814* | Court of Cassation on compilations Commentary: [1] |
1841 | Court of Cassation on artistic property |
1842* | Court of Cassation on artistic property Commentary: [1] |
1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
1869* | Court of Cassation on originality Commentary: [1] |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1507* | Eloy d'Amerval's privilege Commentary: [1] |
1515* | Galliot Du Pré's Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1547* | French Censorship Act Commentary: [1] |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1660* | Decree on Engravings |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1676* | Decree on Sculptures |
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] |
1749* | Crébillon case Commentary: [1] |
1761* | La Fontaine case Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Diderot's Letter on the book trade Commentary: [1] |
1777* | French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges Commentary: [1] |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1780* | Dramatic Act |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1814* | Court of Cassation on compilations Commentary: [1] |
1780* | Dramatic Act |
1791* | Le Chapelier's report Commentary: [1] |
1791* | Report of François Hell to the National Assembly Commentary: [1] |
1791 | Beaumarchais's petition |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1853 | Court of Cassation on translations |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1547* | French Censorship Act Commentary: [1] |
1656* | Privilege du Roy [Charles Le Brun] |
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 |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1761* | La Fontaine case Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Diderot's Letter on the book trade Commentary: [1] |
1770* | Luneau de Boisjermain's case |
1777* | French Decree of 30 August 1777, on the duration of privileges Commentary: [1] |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1676* | Decree on Sculptures |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1547* | French Censorship Act Commentary: [1] |
1552* | General privilege granted to Adrien Le Roy and Robert Ballard Commentary: [1] |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
1650s* | Vitré's memorandum on the prolongation of privileges |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1701* | Royal letters patent Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1762* | Royal declaration on privileges granted to inventors Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Diderot's Letter on the book trade Commentary: [1] |
1777* | Royal declaration on sculpture and painting |
1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1507* | Eloy d'Amerval's privilege Commentary: [1] |
1515* | Galliot Du Pré's Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1530* | La Fleur de la science de pourtraicture |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1690s* | Memorandum on the dispute between the Parisian and the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
1759* | Sieur d'Anville's contract Commentary: [1] |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1676* | Decree on Sculptures |
1714 | Decree on Fine Arts |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1777* | Royal declaration on sculpture and painting |
1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
1866* | Literary and artistic property act |
1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
1851* | SACEM's act of constitution |
1851* | SACEM's act of constitution |
1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
1853 | Court of Cassation on translations |
1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news Commentary: [1] |
1586* | Simon Marion's plea on privileges Commentary: [1] |
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 |
1665* | French book trade regulations |
1686* | Book trade regulations |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1725-1726* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Diderot's Letter on the book trade Commentary: [1] |
1776* | Fragments on the Freedom of the Press Commentary: [1] |
1878* | Morillot on the author's right |