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.
1783 | Continental Congress Resolution |
1789* | The Constitutional Copyright Clause Commentary: [1] |
1826 | Letter from Noah Webster to Daniel Webster |
1826 | Letter from Daniel Webster to Noah Webster |
1828 | Letter from Donaldson to Wheaton |
1830 | Judiciary Committee Report |
1831* | Copyright Act Commentary: [1] |
1834* | Wheaton v. Peters |
1834* | Wheaton v. Peters Independent Report |
1837* | Senate Report |
1838 | Address of Certain Authors |
1837 | Petition of British Authors |
1837 | Debates in Congress |
1838 | Report, from the Committee on Patents |
1838 | Memorial of a Number of Citizens of Boston |
1841* | Folsom v. Marsh Commentary: [1] |
1843 | An Address to the People of the United States |
1847* | A Treatise on the Law of Copyright Commentary: [1] |
1848 | Jay, Bryant and Others' Memorials |
1853* | Stowe v. Thomas Commentary: [1] |
1853 | Stowe v. Thomas, Complainant's Bill |
1853 | Stowe v. Thomas, Defendant's Answer |
1853 | Affidavit of Harriet Beecher Stowe |
1853 | 'Uncle Tom' at Law |
1873 | Committee on the Library Report |
1879* | Drone on Copyright |
1879* | Baker v. Selden Commentary: [1] |
1883 | Sarony's Brief |
1886 | Committee on Patents Report |
1890 | Report on H.R. 10881 |
1896 | The Question of Copyright |