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.
1782 | Letter from Smith to Webster |
1783* | Connecticut Copyright Statute Commentary: [1] |
1783 | Letter from Joel Barlow to the Continental Congress |
1783 | Continental Congress Resolution |
1783 | Massachusetts Copyright Statute |
1783 | New Jersey Copyright Statute |
1783 | New Hampshire Copyright Statute |
1783 | Rhode Island Copyright Statute |
1786 | Georgia Copyright Statute |
1787 | Madison's Edited Journal Record |
1790* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1802 | 1802 Amendment |
1830 | Judiciary Committee Report |
1837* | Senate Report |
1838 | Address of Certain Authors |
1837 | Memorial of a Number of Citizens of the United States |
1838 | Report, from the Committee on Patents |
1838 | Memorial of a Number of Citizens of Boston |
1842 | Memorial of a Number of Persons Concerned in Printing and Publishing |
1843 | An Address to the People of the United States |
1848 | Jay, Bryant and Others' Memorials |
1853 | Letters on International copyright |
1873 | Committee on the Library Report |
1879 | Selden's Argument |
1879 | Baker's Argument |
1883 | Burrow-Giles' Brief |
1886 | Committee on Patents Report |
1890 | Report on H.R. 10881 |