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.
1518* | The Articles of the Pope's Bulle Commentary: [1] |
1553* | Totell's Printing Patent Commentary: [1] |
1553 | William Seres' Printing Patent |
1553 | John Day's Privilege for the Catechism |
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 | Jugge and Cawood's printing patent for statute books |
1559 | Totell's patent for Common Law Books |
1618 | Daniel's The Collection of the Historie of England |
1662* | Licensing Act Commentary: [1] |
1761 | Tonson v. Collins |
1773 | Information for Alexander Donaldson |
1774 | Hargrave's Argument in Defence of Literary Property |
1774 | The Cases of the Appellants and Respondents |
1774 | The Pleadings of the Counsel before the House |
1777* | Bach v. Longman Commentary: [1] |
1801* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1801 | A Bill for the Further Encouragement of Learning |