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.
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1837* | Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1837* | Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1604* | Petition for licence and privilege by Cervantes Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1862 | Bretón de los Herreros' Copyright Contract |
1868* | Colonial Copyright Extensions Commentary: [1] |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1502* | Licensing Rules Commentary: [1] |
1554* | Royal Charter for Licensing Commentary: [1] |
1752* | Privilege Tranfers: Contract between Antonio Sanz and his bookseller |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1868* | Colonial Copyright Extensions Commentary: [1] |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1554* | Royal Charter for Licensing Commentary: [1] |
1559* | Privilege for printing music for the Indies Commentary: [1] |
1559* | Pérez v. Fernández de Córdoba |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1878* | Spanish Copyright Formalities: Certificates |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1752* | Privilege Tranfers: Contract between Antonio Sanz and his bookseller |
1502* | Licensing Rules Commentary: [1] |
1554* | Royal Charter for Licensing Commentary: [1] |
1558* | Censorship Rules |
1752* | Juan Curiel as Censor |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1888* | Civil Code Commentary: [1] |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Colonial Copyright Extensions Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1614* | Publishing Agreement: the Spanish translation of Ludovico Blosio oeuvre |
1752* | Privilege Tranfers: Contract between Antonio Sanz and his bookseller |
1862 | Bretón de los Herreros' Copyright Contract |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1895* | Núñez de Arce’s Will Commentary: [1] |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1691 | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition II |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1711* | Legal Deposit at the Royal Library |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1878* | Spanish Copyright Formalities: Certificates |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1894* | Copyright Formalities: Bulletin |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1862 | Bretón de los Herreros' Copyright Contract |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1837* | Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1837* | Royal Order on Music Copyright |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1877* | Supreme Court on Music Copyright |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1895* | Núñez de Arce’s Will Commentary: [1] |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1604* | Petition for licence and privilege by Cervantes Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1614* | Publishing Agreement: the Spanish translation of Ludovico Blosio oeuvre |
1711* | Legal Deposit at the Royal Library |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1878* | Spanish Copyright Formalities: Certificates |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1894* | Copyright Formalities: Bulletin |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1877* | Supreme Court on Music Copyright |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1752* | Juan Curiel as Censor |
1861* | Supreme Court on Originality |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1861* | Supreme Court on Originality |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1502* | Licensing Rules Commentary: [1] |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1895* | Núñez de Arce’s Will Commentary: [1] |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1558* | Censorship Rules |
1888* | Civil Code Commentary: [1] |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1887* | International Literary Congress in Madrid |
1887* | International Literary Congress in Madrid |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Colonial Copyright Extensions Commentary: [1] |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1887* | International Literary Congress in Madrid |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1604* | Petition for licence and privilege by Cervantes Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1890* | Copyright Pocketbooks Commentary: [1] |
1711* | Legal Deposit at the Royal Library |
1711* | Legal Deposit at the Royal Library |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1554* | Royal Charter for Licensing Commentary: [1] |
1558* | Censorship Rules |
1614* | Publishing Agreement: the Spanish translation of Ludovico Blosio oeuvre |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1752* | Juan Curiel as Censor |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1502* | Licensing Rules Commentary: [1] |
1604* | Petition for licence and privilege by Cervantes Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1837* | Royal Order on Music Copyright |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1887* | International Literary Congress in Madrid |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1559* | Privilege for printing music for the Indies Commentary: [1] |
1559* | Pérez v. Fernández de Córdoba |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1691 | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition II |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1691 | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition II |
1559* | Privilege for printing music for the Indies Commentary: [1] |
1559* | Pérez v. Fernández de Córdoba |
1837* | Royal Order on Music Copyright |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1877* | Supreme Court on Music Copyright |
1792* | Barcelona Newspaper' Printing Privilege |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1861* | Supreme Court on Originality |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1877* | Supreme Court on Music Copyright |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1691 | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition II |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1868* | Colonial Copyright Extensions Commentary: [1] |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1861* | Supreme Court on Originality |
1752* | Juan Curiel as Censor |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1554* | Royal Charter for Licensing Commentary: [1] |
1558* | Censorship Rules |
1762* | Free Trade Regulations |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1677* | Pirated edition of Calderón de la Barca's comedias Commentary: [1] |
1691* | Pseudo-Vera Tassis: Fake edition |
1559* | Privilege for printing music for the Indies Commentary: [1] |
1604* | Petition for licence and privilege by Cervantes Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1614* | Publishing Agreement: the Spanish translation of Ludovico Blosio oeuvre |
1752* | Privilege Tranfers: Contract between Antonio Sanz and his bookseller |
1792* | Barcelona Newspaper' Printing Privilege |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1834* | Privilege to the Royal Lithographic Establishment |
1559* | Privilege for printing music for the Indies Commentary: [1] |
1559* | Pérez v. Fernández de Córdoba |
1763* | Rules for Printers and Book Merchants' Guild in Madrid |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1888* | Civil Code Commentary: [1] |
1813* | Rules to preserve the property of authors over their works |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1502* | Licensing Rules Commentary: [1] |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1711* | Legal Deposit at the Royal Library |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1878* | Spanish Copyright Formalities: Certificates |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1885* | First Inscriptions of Works at the Spanish Copyright Office |
1894* | Copyright Formalities: Bulletin |
1880* | Copyright Regulations Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1558* | Censorship Rules |
1752* | Juan Curiel as Censor |
1487* | Printing Privileges to Monasteries Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1861* | Supreme Court on Originality |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1877* | Supreme Court on Music Copyright |
1506 | Nebrija's Printing Privilege Commentary: [1] |
1838* | Remarks on Literary Property |
1859* | Casado's PhD on Copyright |
1882* | Danvila’s Copyright Treatise Commentary: [1] |
1890* | Copyright Pocketbooks Commentary: [1] |
1890* | Copyright Pocketbooks Commentary: [1] |
1872* | Supreme Court on Artistic Copyright |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1605* | Don Quixote’s Privilege Extensions |
1837* | Royal Order on Dramatic Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1890* | Copyright Pocketbooks Commentary: [1] |
1887* | International Literary Congress in Madrid |
1477* | Tax Exemption for Books Commentary: [1] |
1862 | Bretón de los Herreros' Copyright Contract |
1895* | Núñez de Arce’s Will Commentary: [1] |
1847* | Literary Property Act Commentary: [1] |
1854* | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1857* | Anglo-Spanish Copyright Treaty Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Anglo-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1614* | Publishing Agreement: the Spanish translation of Ludovico Blosio oeuvre |
1848* | Copyright Formalities: Registration |
1879* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1880 | Franco-Spanish Bilateral Copyright Treaty |
1884* | Bilateral Copyright Treaty between Spain and El Salvador Commentary: [1] |
1898* | Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain Commentary: [1] |