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.
| 1530* | La Fleur de la science de pourtraicture |
| 1552* | General privilege granted to Adrien Le Roy and Robert Ballard Commentary: [1] |
| 1607 | General privilege granted to Pierre Ballard |
| 1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade Commentary: [1] |
| 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* | Louis d'Héricourt's memorandum Commentary: [1] |
| 1749* | Crébillon case 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] |
| 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] |
| 1778* | Pluquet's letters Commentary: [1] |
| 1778 | Decree on counterfeitings |
| 1779 | Séguier's report |
| 1780 | Beaumarchais's report |
| 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 |
| 1793* | French Literary and Artistic Property Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1810 | Imperial decree on the book trade |
| 1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
| 1814* | Court of Cassation on compilations Commentary: [1] |
| 1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
| 1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
| 1841 | Court of Cassation on artistic property |
| 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 |
| 1854 | Literary and Artistic Property Act |
| 1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news 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] |
