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.
1531* | Basel Printers' Statute (Germany) Commentary: [1] |
1539 | Appointment of Academic Printer at the University of Copenhagen (Scandinavia) |
1598 | Frankfurt Printers' Ordinance (Germany) |
1618* | Book trade regulations and incorporation of the Parisian book trade (France) Commentary: [1] |
1637* | Star Chamber Decree (United Kingdom) Commentary: [1] |
1660* | Frankfurt Printers' Ordinance (Germany) Commentary: [1] |
1673 | Nuremberg Printers' Ordinance (Germany) |
1686* | Book trade regulations (France) |
1713 | Augsburg Printers' Ordinance (Germany) |
1725-1726* | Pierre-Jacques Blondel's memorandum (France) Commentary: [1] |
1752 | Regulations and Rules for the Printing Industry in Sweden (Scandinavia) |
1818 | Select Committee Report: Minutes of Evidence (United Kingdom) |
1868* | Proudhon: 'Les Majorats littéraires' (France) |
1899 | Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co., District Court Decision (United States) |
1900 | Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co., Circuit Court Decision (United States) |
1902 | Bleistein's Brief (United States) |
1902 | Bleistein: Donaldson Lithographing Co. Brief (United States) |
1903* | Bleistein v. Donaldson Lithographing Co. (United States) Commentary: [1] |