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.
1559* | Elizabethan Injunctions Commentary: [1] |
1586* | Star Chamber Decree Commentary: [1] |
1637* | Star Chamber Decree Commentary: [1] |
1643* | The Humble Remonstrance of the Stationers' Company Commentary: [1] |
1649 | An Act against Unlicensed and Scandalous Books and Pamphlets |
1653 | An Act for reviving [the 1649 Act] |
1662* | Licensing Act Commentary: [1] |
1663 | L'Estrange's Considerations and Proposals |
1693 | Locke's Memorandum on the 1662 Act |
1710* | Statute of Anne Commentary: [1] |
1710 | A Bill for Encouragement of Learning |
1737* | Booksellers' Bill Commentary: [1] |
1737 | An Act for the Encouragement of Learning (Draft) |
1769* | Millar v. Taylor Commentary: [1] |
1773 | Information for Messrs John Hinton et al |
1773 | Information for Alexander Donaldson |
1774 | Booksellers' Bill |
1812 | Petition of the London Booksellers |
1813 | Petition of the Printers of London and Westminster |
1813 | Select Committee Report: Minutes of Evidence |
1814 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (18 July) |
1814 | Bill to amend Acts for the Encouragement of Learning (18 May) |
1814 | Bill to amend Acts for the Encouragement of Learning (7 June) |
1814 | Bill to amend Acts for the Encouragement of Learning (12 July) |
1814 | Bill to amend Acts for the Encouragement of Learning (15 July) |
1818 | Select Committee Report on the Copyright Acts |
1818 | Select Committee Report: Minutes of Evidence |
1828* | Maugham's Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1837 | Copyright Bill (6 June) |
1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (25 April) |
1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (6 June) |
1838 | Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
1838 | Copyright Bill (6 June) |
1839 | Copyright Bill |
1840 | Copyright Bill |
1841 | Copyright Bill |
1842* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1842* | Lowndes' Historical Sketch of the Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (9 May) |
1842 | Bill to Amend the Law of Copyright (4 March) |
1842 | Bill to Amend the Law of Copyright (23 March) |
1842 | Bill to Amend the Law of Copyright (21 April) |
1870* | Copinger's Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1878* | Royal Commissioners' Report Commentary: [1] |
1878 | Royal Commission on Copyright: Minutes of Evidence |