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.
| 1709 | Reasons Humbly Offer'd to the Consideration of the Honourable House of Commons |
| 1710* | Statute of Anne Commentary: [1] |
| 1737* | Booksellers' Bill Commentary: [1] |
| 1737 | An Act for the Encouragement of Learning (Draft) |
| 1769* | Millar v. Taylor Commentary: [1] |
| 1773* | Hinton v. Donaldson Commentary: [1] |
| 1773 | Information for Messrs John Hinton et al |
| 1773 | Information for Alexander Donaldson |
| 1774* | Donaldson v. Becket Commentary: [1] |
| 1774 | The Pleadings of the Counsel before the House |
| 1774 | Booksellers' Bill |
| 1787* | Calico Printers' Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1787 | Calico Printers' Act (parchment copy) |
| 1801* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1801 | A Bill for the Further Encouragement of Learning |
| 1814* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1814 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (18 July) |
| 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: Minutes of Evidence |
| 1828* | Maugham's Treatise Commentary: [1] |
| 1830 | Dramatic Writings Bill |
| 1832 | Select Committee Report: Dramatic Literature |
| 1837 | Copyright Bill (6 June) |
| 1838* | International Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the International Copyright Act (20 March) |
| 1838 | Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
| 1838 | Copyright Bill (6 June) |
| 1839 | Copyright Bill |
| 1839 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
| 1840 | Copyright Bill |
| 1841 | Copyright Bill |
| 1841 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (29 Jan.) |
| 1842* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (6 April) |
| 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) |
| 1861 | Fine Art Copyright Bill |
| 1862* | Fine Art Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1862 | Fine Art Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
| 1862 | Fine Art Copyright Bill (20 March) |
| 1869 | Artistic Copyright Bill, London Commentary: [1] |
| 1870* | Copinger's Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |
| 1878 | Royal Commission on Copyright: Minutes of Evidence |
| 1879 | Copyright Consolidation Bill |
| 1899 | Artistic Copyright Bill, London |
| 1900 | Artistic Copyright Bill, London |
