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.
1784 | South Carolina Copyright Statute |
1787 | Constitutional Convention Journal Entry |
1787 | Madison's Journal Record |
1787 | Madison's Edited Journal Record |
1788 | The Federalist No. 43 |
1789* | The Constitutional Copyright Clause Commentary: [1] |
1789 | Ramsay's Petiton House Record |
1789 | House Joint copyright and patent bill decision |
1789 | Joint Copyright Patent Bill [H.R. 10] |
1790* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1831* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1831 | House Debate |
1834* | Wheaton v. Peters Independent Report |
1837* | Senate Report |
1838 | Report, from the Committee on Patents |
1853 | Letters on International copyright |
1870* | Copyright Act |
1879* | Baker v. Selden Commentary: [1] |
1879 | Baker's Argument |
1883 | Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony |
1883 | Sarony's Brief |
1883 | Burrow-Giles' Brief |
1886 | Committee on Patents Report |