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.
| 1553 | William Seres' Printing Patent |
| 1558 | Calve's privilege for the 'Holsome and Catholick Doctrine' |
| 1558 | Phayer's privilege for Virgil's Aeneid |
| 1559 | Day's The Cosmographical Glass |
| 1559* | Day's privilege for The Cosmographical Glass Commentary: [1] |
| 1559 | Totell's patent for Common Law Books |
| 1624* | Statute of Monopolies Commentary: [1] |
| 1667* | Milton's Contract Commentary: [1] |
| 1709 | Reasons Humbly Offer'd for the Bill for the Encouragement of Learning |
| 1709 | More Reasons Humbly Offer'd for the Bill for the Encouragement of Learning |
| 1710* | Statute of Anne Commentary: [1] |
| 1737* | Booksellers' Bill Commentary: [1] |
| 1737 | An Act for the Encouragement of Learning (Draft) |
| 1774 | Booksellers' Bill |
| 1787* | Calico Printers' Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1798* | Models and Busts Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1801* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1813 | Petition of the Edinburgh Booksellers |
| 1813 | Report of the Acts Respecting Copyright |
| 1814* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1814 | Sculpture Copyright Act |
| 1814 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (10 May) |
| 1814 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (19 May) |
| 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 |
| 1828* | Maugham's Treatise Commentary: [1] |
| 1830 | Dramatic Writings Bill |
| 1838* | International Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (25 April) |
| 1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (9 May) |
| 1838 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (6 June) |
| 1839 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
| 1839 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (1 May) |
| 1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (8 Feb.) |
| 1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (3 Mar.) |
| 1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (16 Mar.) |
| 1842 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Act (6 April) |
| 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) |
| 1862* | Fine Art Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
| 1862 | Parliamentary Debates on the Fine Art Copyright Act (28 Feb.) |
| 1862 | Parliamentary Debates on the Fine Art Copyright Act (22 May) |
| 1862 | Parliamentary Debates on the Fine Art Copyright Act (5 June) |
| 1870* | Copinger's Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |
| 1878* | Royal Commissioners' Report Commentary: [1] |
| 1878 | Royal Commission on Copyright: Minutes of Evidence |
| 1879 | Copyright Consolidation Bill |
