This two day conference is the culmination of a research project involving the creation of a digital resource concerning the history of copyright in five key jurisdictions; France, Germany, Italy, the UK and the US, for the period before 1900. The following matters of the programme could be highlighted: The Public Sphere and the Emergence of Copyright, The Significance of Copyright History for Publishing History and Historians, Copyright History and Art History and Copyright formalities in nineteenth century Europe and their significance for current discourse. The course will be held on 19-20 March 2008, in London, United Kingdom