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 |
| 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] |
| 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] |
| 1744* | Code de la Librairie Commentary: [1] |
| 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] |
| 1770* | Luneau de Boisjermain's case |
| 1776* | Gaultier's memorandum for the provincial booksellers Commentary: [1] |
| 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] |
| 1786* | French Decree on Musical Publications |
| 1791* | Le Chapelier's report 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] |
| 1814* | Court of Cassation on sculptures Commentary: [1] |
| 1826* | Minutes of the 1825-1826 Commission |
| 1834* | Balzac's letter to authors |
| 1841* | Report of Lamartine and parliamentary debates on literary property |
| 1842* | Court of Cassation on artistic property Commentary: [1] |
| 1851* | SACEM's act of constitution |
| 1861* | Court of Cassation on telegraphic news Commentary: [1] |
| 1862* | Court of Cassation on photography Commentary: [1] |
| 1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' |
| 1866* | Literary and artistic property act |
| 1869* | Court of Cassation on originality Commentary: [1] |
| 1902* | Court of Cassation on moral rights Commentary: [1] |
