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.
1559* | Day's privilege for The Cosmographical Glass Commentary: [1] |
1643* | The Humble Remonstrance of the Stationers' Company Commentary: [1] |
1704* | Defoe's Essay on the Press Commentary: [1] |
1706 | Reasons Humbly Offer'd for the Bill for the Encouragement of Learning |
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] |
1710 | A Bill for Encouragement of Learning |
1741* | Gyles v. Wilcox (Atkyn's Reports) Commentary: [1] |
1741 | Gyles v. Wilcox (Barnardiston's Report) |
1762* | An Enquiry into Literary Property Commentary: [1] |
1801* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1801 | A Bill for the Further Encouragement of Learning |
1801 | Copyright Act (parchment copy) |
1813 | Report of the Acts Respecting Copyright |
1813 | Select Committee Report on Acts for the Encouragement of Learning |
1814* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1839 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (27 Feb.) |
1840 | Parliamentary Debates on the Copyright Bill (4 Feb.) |
1842* | Lowndes' Historical Sketch of the Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |