View source for Legal deposit

{{Short description|Legal requirement on publications}}
'''Legal deposit''' is a legal requirement that mandates individuals or organizations to submit copies of their [[publication]]s to a designated repository, typically a [[national library]]. The number of copies required varies by country. In some jurisdictions, governments are also subject to legal deposit obligations and must provide copies of official documents to publicly accessible libraries. These requirements exist to preserve a nation's published heritage and ensure long-term access to information.
[[File:Books in legal repositories 2018–2020 (WIPO).svg|thumb|Books in legal depositories in 2018–2020]]
The legislation governing legal deposit requirements varies by country; in some cases, it is enshrined in [[copyright law]], while in others, it is established through separate legal deposit or library-specific statutes. Until the late 20th century, legal deposit covered only [[printed matter|printed]] and [[audiovisual]] materials. However, in the 21st century, most countries have extended their legislation to include [[digital document]]s. In 2000, [[UNESCO]] published a new and enlarged edition of Jean Lunn's ''1981 Guidelines for Legal Deposit Legislation'', which addresses the issue of electronic formats in its recommendations for the construction of legal deposit legislation.<ref name="ifla">{{cite web | title=Guidelines for Legal Deposit Legislation | website=International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) | date=20 October 2000 | url=http://archive.ifla.org/VII/s1/gnl/legaldep1.htm | access-date=5 May 2020|edition=Revised, enlarged and updated|quote=A revised, enlarged and updated edition of the 1981 publication by Dr. Jean LUNN IFLA Committee on Cataloguing|first=Jules |last=Larivière|location=Paris }}</ref><ref name="unesco">{{cite web | title=Guidelines for Legal Deposit Legislation | publisher=UNESCO | date=20 October 2000 | url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000121413 | access-date=5 May 2020|edition=revised, enlarged and updated|quote=A revised, enlarged and updated edition of the 1981 publication by Dr. Jean LUNN IFLA Committee on Cataloguing|first=Jules |last=Larivière|location=Paris|format=pdf }}</ref>

The number of books deposited in national legal repositories increased from 2.4{{nbsp}}million in 2018 to 2.7{{nbsp}}million in 2019, mainly due to a substantial growth in digital deposits.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=The Global Publishing Industry in 2020 |url=https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4616&plang=EN |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.wipo.int |publisher=[[WIPO]] |doi= 10.34667/tind.46277|language=en|author1= International Publishers Association (IPa)|author2= World Intellectual Property Organization}}</ref>

==By country==

===Albania===
In Albania, section 41–47 of the law "On books in the Republic of Albania" (no. 9616/2006) requires publishers of "printed books, brochures, posters, postal cards, maps, geographic atlases, and musical and choreographical scores" to deposit 5 copies without compensation at the [[National Library of Albania]], the Library of the [[Albanian Parliament]], and the local public library of the municipality the publisher operates in. Each new printing is subject to the same conditions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Për librin në Republikën e Shqipërisë |url=https://qbz.gov.al/eli/ligj/2006/09/27/9616 |publisher=Center of Official Publications |language=sq}}</ref>

===Australia===
{{see also|National edeposit|Copyright Act 1968}}
In Australia, section 201 of the ''[[Copyright Act 1968]]''<ref>{{cite web | title=Copyright Act 1968 | website=Federal Register of Legislation | date=24 February 2016 | url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016C00146  | access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> and other state acts requires that a copy of all materials published in Australia be deposited with the [[National Library of Australia]]. State laws require books and a wide range of other materials published in each state to be deposited in the applicable state library. [[New South Wales]], [[Queensland]] and [[South Australia]] also require books published in those states to be deposited in the library of the state parliament. New South Wales law also requires books published in that state to be deposited in the [[University of Sydney]] library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nla.gov.au/services/LegalDepositStates.html|title=Legal Deposit > States & Territories|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=2011-03-30|archive-date=2011-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405174820/http://www.nla.gov.au/services/LegalDepositStates.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=slnsw/>

The relevant legislation governing deposit of items to state and territory libraries are: the ''Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004'' (NT);<ref name=ntleg>{{cite web | title=Legislation Database | website=Legislation Database | url=https://legislation.nt.gov.au/Legislation/PUBLICATIONS-LEGAL-DEPOSIT-ACT-2004 | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> the ''Libraries Act 1988'' (Qld), the ''Libraries Act 1984'' (Tas),<ref name=lcweb/><ref name="Libraries Tasmania 2020">{{cite web | title=Legal deposit | website=Libraries Tasmania | date=7 May 2020 | url=https://www.libraries.tas.gov.au/how-to/Pages/legal-deposit.aspx | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> Section 35 of the ''Libraries Act 1982'' (SA),<ref name=slsa>{{cite web | title=Legal Deposit | website=State Library of South Australia | url=https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/legal-deposit | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=saleg>{{cite web | title=South Australian Legislation | website=legislation.sa.gov.au | date=6 May 2020 | url=https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/LIBRARIES%20ACT%201982.aspx | access-date=7 May 2020 }} [https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/LIBRARIES%20ACT%201982/CURRENT/1982.70.AUTH.PDF PDF] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104141637/https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/LZ/C/A/LIBRARIES%20ACT%201982/CURRENT/1982.70.AUTH.PDF |date=2021-11-04 }}</ref> the ''Libraries Act 1939'' (NSW),<ref name=slnsw>{{cite web | title=Legal deposit | website=State Library of NSW | date=17 January 2020 | url=https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/research-and-collections/building-our-collections/legal-deposit | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> Section 49 of the ''Libraries Act 1988'' (Vic),<ref name=slvic>{{cite web | title=Legal deposit | website=State Library Victoria | date=30 May 2019 | url=https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/help/copyright-legal-deposit/legal-deposit | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=vicleg>{{cite web | title=Libraries Act 1988 | website=Victorian legislation | url=https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/in-force/acts/libraries-act-1988/053 | language=oc | access-date=7 May 2020}} [https://content.legislation.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/0d065b76-4299-339f-9b43-b062d858ca4a_88-80aa053%20authorised.pdf PDF]</ref> and the ''Legal Deposit Act 2012'' (WA)<ref name=slwa>{{cite web | title=Legal Deposit | website=State Library | date=1 January 2014 | url=https://slwa.wa.gov.au/explore-discover/collecting-wa/legal-deposit | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref> The [[Australian Capital Territory]] (ACT) has no local legislation {{as of|lc=yes|May 2020}}, but publishers "are encouraged to lodge a copy of their publications with the ACT Heritage Library for ongoing preservation and access".<ref name=act>{{cite web | title=Legal deposit Australia wide | website=National Library of Australia | url=https://www.nla.gov.au/legal-deposit/australia-wide | access-date=7 May 2020 | archive-date=9 April 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409195800/https://www.nla.gov.au/legal-deposit/australia-wide | url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ''Copyright Act 1968'' and legal deposit legislation pertaining to each state<ref name=what>{{cite web | title=What is legal deposit? | website=National Library of Australia | date=17 February 2016 | url=https://www.nla.gov.au/legal-deposit/what-is-legal-deposit | access-date=3 May 2020 | archive-date=5 March 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305174816/https://www.nla.gov.au/legal-deposit/what-is-legal-deposit | url-status=dead }}</ref> mandates that publishers of any kind must deposit copies of their publications in the National Library of Australia as well as in the state or territory library in their jurisdiction. Until the 21st century, this has applied to all types of printed materials (and in some states, to [[audio-visual]] formats as well).<ref name=nsla>{{cite web | title=Legal deposit in Australia | website=National and State Libraries Australia | date=1 June 2019 | url=https://www.nsla.org.au/legal-deposit-australasia | access-date=3 May 2020 | archive-date=21 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321031338/https://www.nsla.org.au/legal-deposit-australasia | url-status=dead }}</ref> On 17 February 2016, the federal legal deposit provisions were extended (by ''Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016'') to cover electronic publications of all types.<ref name=what/> By July 2018, while the [[Northern Territory]] was the only jurisdiction with legislation with explicit mention of "internet publications" (in its ''Publications (Legal Deposit) Act 2004''), [[Queensland]]'s ''Libraries Act 1988'' and [[Tasmania]]'s ''Libraries Act 1984'' were broad enough to include digital publications.<ref name=lcweb>{{cite web | title=Digital Legal Deposit: Australia|first=Kelly|last= Buchanan|date=July 2018 | website=Library of Congress (Law Library of Congress)| url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/digital-legal-deposit/australia.php | access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref><ref name=lcdoc>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/digital-legal-deposit/digital-legal-deposit.pdf|title=Digital Legal Deposit in Selected Jurisdictions|publisher=The Law Library of Congress, Global Legal Research Center|date=July 2018}}</ref> Most states and territories have been reviewing or amending existing legislation to extend to digital publications as well.<ref name=nsla/><ref>{{cite web | title=Statute Law Revision Act (No. 1) 2016 | website=Federal Register of Legislation | date=12 February 2016 | url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2016A00004 | access-date=3 May 2020}}</ref> The [[State Library of South Australia]] requires that electronic publications should be deposited rather than print whenever possible".<ref name=slsa/> In June 2019, New South Wales passed new legislation, the ''Library Amendment Act 2019'', which amended the ''Library Act 1939'' and repealed previous legal deposit legislation, the ''Copyright Act 1879'' (NSW). The change means that legal deposit now applies to all formats, including digital.<ref name=slnsw/>

Under the legislation (section 195CD (1) (c) (i)), publishers are required to deposit digital publications without [[Digital rights management|technological protection measures (TPM) or digital rights management (DRM)]]; that is, the copy must contain all content and functionality, without protection measures such as password protection or subscription paywalls.<ref name=apa>{{cite web | title=Who's NED? The National Edeposit | website=Australian Publishers Association | date=21 August 2019 | url=https://www.publishers.asn.au/news/whos-ned-the-national-edeposit | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504021651/https://www.publishers.asn.au/news/whos-ned-the-national-edeposit | archive-date=4 May 2020 | access-date=4 May 2020}}</ref>

===Austria===
{{See also|:de:Pflichtexemplar#Österreich}}

===Belgium===
{{See also|:nl:Depotplicht#België}}
{{See also|:fr:Dépôt légal#Belgique}}

===Brazil===
[[File:Lei Brasileira do Depósito Legal(Dom Pedro II).jpg|thumb|alt=Brazilian law of legal deposit 1847.|Law of legal deposit of [[Pedro&nbsp;II]] in 1847]]
Legal deposit legislation in Brazil ("Depósito legal"), federal laws number 10994<ref>[http://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:2004-12-14;10994 Law n°10,994], as of December 14, 2004. The brazilian legal deposit act.</ref>
and 12192,<ref>[http://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:2010-01-14;12192 Law n°12,192], with complements about brazilian music deposit.</ref>
requires that one copy <!— LEI No 10.994, Art. 2o, item I, "um ou mais exemplares", that is, ONE OR MORE. Today the standard is ONE. See http://www.bn.br/portal/?nu_pagina=22 —> of every book, music or periodical published in the country be sent to the [[National Library of Brazil]] (known as Biblioteca Nacional, Biblioteca do Rio de Janeiro, or Fundação Biblioteca Nacional), located in the city of [[Rio de Janeiro]].

=== Brunei ===
Under the Preservation of Books Act (1967, revised in 1984), three copies of every "book, report, pamphlet, periodical, newspaper, sheet of letterpress, sheet of music, map, plan, chart or table separated published" shall be delivered to the Director of Museums within one month after the publication at one's own expense.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LAWS/ACT_PDF/cap125.pdf|title=Laws of Brunei Revised Edition 1984 Chapter 125: Preservation of Books|website=www.agc.gov.bn|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2016/03/02/dbp-receives-revised-preservation-books-act|title=DBP receives revised 'Preservation of Books Act' {{!}} The BT Archive|website=btarchive.org|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

===Canada===
In Canada, the Library and Archives of Canada Act (2004)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/L-7.7/|title=Library and Archives of Canada Act (S.C. 2004, c. 11)|website=laws-lois.justice.gc.ca|date=26 February 2015 |access-date=22 May 2021}}</ref> specifies that up to two copies of any published material must be deposited with Library and Archives Canada. Materials deposited in the archives are catalogued; the catalogs are available as part of the [[Library and Archives Canada]] website. The province of Quebec also requires deposit of two copies of any document be deposited to {{Lang|fr|[[Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec]]|italic=no}} within seven days of its publication.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.banq.qc.ca/services/depot_legal/index.html?language_id=1|title=Legal deposit - BAnQ|website=www.banq.qc.ca|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref>

===China===

In China, Article 22 of ''Regulations on the Administration of Publication'' (2001)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fdi.gov.cn/1800000121_39_2227_0_7.html | title=Regulations on the Administration of Publication | at=Article 23 | publisher=The State Council | date=December 25, 2001 | access-date=7 September 2013 | archive-date=26 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226023036/http://www.fdi.gov.cn/default.aspx?aspxerrorpath=%2F1800000121_39_2227_0_7.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> states that three copies of each printed publication should be submitted to the [[National Library of China]], one copy to the Archives Library of Chinese Publications and one copy to the administrative department for publication under the State Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nlc.gov.cn/old2008/service/others/jiaosong/dongtai.htm|title=致出版社: 关于缴送图书册数的说明|publisher=National Library of China|date=July 3, 2006|access-date=7 September 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (in Chinese)</ref>

===Colombia===

In Colombia, the law of legal deposit is regulated by Law 44 of 1993, the statutory Decree 460 of March 16 of 1999, and Decree 2150 of 1995. These laws and decrees are specifically about the [[National Library of Colombia]]. The creators of printed works, as well as audiovisual, audio, and video productions, should supply the library with a specified number of copies of the works, whether they were produced within the Colombian territory or imported.
* For printed works, two copies of each of the works produced within the national territory should be delivered to the National Library of Colombia; one copy to the ''Biblioteca del Congreso de la República de Colombia'' (Library of the Congress of the Republic of Colombia), and one copy to the Central Library of the ''[[Universidad Nacional de Colombia]]'' (National University of Colombia), excepting a few cases in which the high cost of the edition or the short duration of publication makes it possible to deliver fewer copies.
* For audiovisual and audio works, as well as for published works that have been imported, only one copy needs to be delivered to the National Library.

===Costa Rica===
The [[Biblioteca Nacional "Miguel Obregón Lizano"|National Library of Costa Rica]] is obliged by law ("Printing Law and Copyright [Author Rights Law] and Related Rights Law") to hold three copies of every publication in the country.<ref>{{cite web
	| title = Benemérita Biblioteca Nacional
	| date = 2025-01-28
	| website = Sistema Nacional de Bibliotecas
	| language = Spanish
	| quote = Es la institución depositaria de tres ejemplares de toda publicación hecha en el país (Ley de Imprenta y Ley de Derechos de Autor y Derechos Conexos).
	| url = https://www.sinabi.go.cr/bibliotecas/biblioteca_nacional.aspx
}}</ref>

===Croatia===
In Croatia, legal deposit was established in 1816. Today, it is regulated by the Libraries Act, which stipulates nine copies should be supplied by the publishers. Of these, two are received by the [[National and University Library in Zagreb]], while university and scientific libraries in [[Osijek]], [[Rijeka]], [[Pula]], [[Zadar]], [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Dubrovnik]] and [[Mostar]] receive one copy each.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | url=https://www.enciklopedija.hr/clanak/obvezni-primjerak | title=Obvezni primjerak | encyclopedia = [[Croatian Encyclopedia]] | publisher=[[Miroslav Krleža Institute of Lexicography]] | language=hr | access-date=September 30, 2019}}</ref>

===Denmark===
In Denmark, legal deposit has been required since 1697,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pligtaflevering.dk/hvaderpligtaflevering/index.htm |title=Hvad er pligtaflevering |language=Danish |website=Pligtaflevering |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref> and is handled by the [[Royal Danish Library]] (for most written works) and by the State and University Library (for newspapers, audio, and video); two copies must be supplied.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pligtaflevering.dk/hvaderpligtaflevering/hvortil.htm |title=Hvem skal du aflevere til |website=Pligtaflevering |language=Danish |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref> This also includes works in digital format, and the publisher may be required to supply the necessary passwords.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pligtaflevering.dk/hvemonline.htm |title=Materiale fra internettet |website=Pligtaflevering |language=Danish |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Faroe Islands===
Legal deposit of four copies of every publication is required to the [[National Library of the Faroe Islands]] under a law passed on July 16, 1952.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flb.fo/Um-Landsbokasavnid/soga-og-endamal.html |title=Søga og endamál, Um Landsbókasavnið |publisher=National Library of the Faroe Islands |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413014637/http://www.flb.fo/Um-Landsbokasavnid/soga-og-endamal.html |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |language=fo }}</ref>

===Finland===
In Finland, [[The Royal Academy of Turku]] was given right to receive a copy of all works published in Sweden in 1707. After Finland had been ceded by Sweden to Russia, this privilege was confirmed in 1809. In 1820, all Russian print presses began to send legal deposit copies to Finland.

Gaining its independence in 1917, Finland retained the principles of legal deposit. Helsinki University Library (the university had been transferred from Turku in 1827) remained the main deposit library. Additional copies began to be deposited in other libraries in Turku, Jyväskylä, and Vyborg (later Oulu). In 1984, the obligation to deposit was expanded to audiovisual materials; responsibility to preserve films was given to the [[Finnish Film Archive|National Audiovisual Institute.]]

A new act on depositing and preservation of cultural materials was given in 2007. The new act covers two new important types of cultural materials. The National Audiovisual Archive collects and preserves broadcast materials, whereas the [[National Library of Finland]] (Helsinki University Library renamed) takes care of capturing and preserving Web content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationallibrary.fi/publishers/deposit.html|title=Submitting of legal deposit copies - The National Library of Finland|author=Kansalliskirjasto, Nationalbiblioteket, The National Library of Finland|work=nationallibrary.fi}}</ref>

===France===
{{see also|Books in France}}
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
In France, legal deposit was initiated by the [[Ordonnance de Montpellier]] of 1537, under which a copy of any published book had to be delivered to the king's library, for conservation purposes. During the following centuries, legal deposit was sometimes used to facilitate censorship and the obligation was thus removed briefly during the [[French Revolution]], under the argument that it violated [[freedom of speech]]. The main depository is the [[Bibliothèque nationale de France]]. Legal deposit is extremely developed and concerns not only printed material but also multimedia archives and even some web pages.

France is also unique in the world in funding the [[Osmothèque]], a legal deposit scent and fragrance archive to preserve [[perfume]] formulas.

===Germany===
{{see also|Media of Germany}}
In Germany, since 1913 publishing houses bound by a contract with the booksellers' guild, the ''Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels'', were required to send a so-called ''Pflichtexemplar'' of each book in print and stock to the ''Deutsche Bücherei'' in [[Leipzig]]. After World War II, ''Deutsche Bücherei'' kept going in [[East Germany]], while the ''Deutsche Bibliothek'' was founded in [[Frankfurt|Frankfurt am Main]], [[West Germany]]. Legal deposits kept being required strictly by Private Law, organised by the Börsenverein and the German booksellers. Since 1969, the German National Library Law (''Gesetz über die Deutsche Bibliothek'' vom 31. März 1969, <abbr>BGBl. I S. 265</abbr>)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzer.de/gesetz/4517/index.htm|title=Gesetz über die Deutsche Bibliothek (DBiblG)|work=buzer.de}}</ref> required that two copies of each print publication and of some non-print publications be sent to the German National Library in either Frankfurt am Main or [[Leipzig]] (depending on the publisher's location). The act was replaced in 2006 by the German National Library Act, as the ''[[German National Library]]'', or ''Deutsche Nationalbibilothek'', was founded.<ref>''[https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/dnbg/index.html Gesetz über die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek (DNBG)]'' of 22 June 2006 (BGBl. I S. 1338).</ref> Additionally, each [[States of Germany|federal state]] of Germany requires that one or two copies of works published in that state be deposited in the respective state repository.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pflichtexemplar-Bibliotheken |url=http://fachweltdev.sub.uni-hamburg.de/leihverkehrszentrale/pflichtexemplar-bibliotheken.html |website=Stabi Hamburg |access-date=29 January 2019 |language=de |archive-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064110/http://fachweltdev.sub.uni-hamburg.de/leihverkehrszentrale/pflichtexemplar-bibliotheken.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Hong Kong===
Under section 3 of the Books Registration Ordinance the publisher of a new book shall, within one month after the book is published, printed, produced or otherwise made in Hong Kong, deliver to the [[Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport]] free of charge five copies of the book.<ref>{{Cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Books Registration Ordinance|142|3|1}}</ref>

A person who contravenes such requirement shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of [[HK$]]2000.<ref>{{Cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Books Registration Ordinance|142|3|3}}, with respect to schedule 8 of the {{Cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Criminal Procedure Ordinance|221}}</ref>

The secretary is required to send one copy to the [[Hong Kong City Hall|City Hall Library]], which was the main library of the previous [[Urban Council]] or such other library as he may approve.<ref>{{Cite Hong Kong ordinance|name=Books Registration Ordinance|142|4|b|ii}}</ref>

This requirement did not include any library under the previous [[Regional Council (Hong Kong)|Regional Council]] (another municipal council in Hong Kong), and was not amended since the [[Hong Kong Central Library]] was open and replaced the City Hall Library as the main library for the whole territory.

===Hungary===
{{See also|:hu:Köteles példány#A magyarországi jogi szabályozás}}

===Iceland===
In Iceland, four copies of any published, printed, material must be sent to the [[National and University Library of Iceland]] in [[Reykjavík]], three of which will be kept there, and one of which will be kept at [[Amtsbókasafnið|Amtsbókasafnið á Akureyri]] in [[Akureyri]]. If fewer than 50 copies are made only two are required.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://landsbokasafn.is/id/1010705|title=Landsbókasafn-Leiðbeiningar|access-date=28 January 2018}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===India===
{{see also|Book publishing in India}}
The Delivery of Books Act 1954 enacted by the Indian parliament regulates the deposit of books published in India to the [[National Library of India]], Kolkata and three other libraries namely, [[Connemara Public Library]], Chennai; Central Library, Mumbai and the [[Delhi Public Library]]. The Act was amended in 1956 to include periodicals and newspapers.<ref name="biswas">{{cite journal |last1=Biswas |first1=Subhas C. |title=Indian Legal Deposit Legislation and its Impact on the National Library |journal=Alexandria: The Journal of National and International Library and Information Issues |date=December 2011 |volume=22 |issue=2–3 |pages=49–59 |doi=10.7227/ALX.22.2.7|s2cid=112408863 }}</ref> The Indian National Bibliography is compiled on the receipt of books received under Delivery of Books Act at the National Library, Kolkata.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ahas |first1=Shahina P. |last2=Banerjee |first2=Swapna |title=The Indian National Bibliography: today and tomorrow |date=2013 |url=http://library.ifla.org/119/1/143-ahas-en.pdf |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Ireland===
One copy of each book and periodical published in the Republic of Ireland must be deposited with the [[National Library of Ireland]] (NLI), the [[British Library]], and each of the seven university libraries: [[Trinity College Library, Dublin|Trinity College Library]] and those of the [[University of Limerick]] (UL), [[Dublin City University]] (DCU), and the four constituent universities of the [[National University of Ireland]] (NUI).<ref name="irishstatutebook2000" /><ref name="tcd"/> Four other British libraries can submit a written request for a copy within a year: the [[Bodleian Library]], [[Cambridge University Library]], the [[National Library of Scotland]] and the [[National Library of Wales]].<ref name="irishstatutebook2000">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2000/act/28/section/198/enacted/en/html|title=Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000, Section 198|date=10 July 2000|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="tcd"/> Irish publishers have complained at the obligation to supply up to 13 free copies of works which may have a small print run.<ref name="Simpson1996"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/select_committee_on_enterprise_and_small_business/2000-04-04/3/ |title=Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 1999 [Seanad]: Committee Stage (Resumed) |author=((Select Committee on Enterprise and Small Business)) |date=4 April 2000 |work=Committee Debates|publisher=Oireachtas|no-pp=y|pages=Section 187; Amendment No. 121a |access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2000062200022#N954 |title=Copyright and Related Rights Bill, 1999 [ Seanad ] : Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage |last=Owen |first=Nora |author-link=Nora Owen |date=22 June 2000|work=Dáil Éireann Debate|publisher=Oireachtas|pages=Vol.521 No.6 p.22 cc.1520–1 |no-pp=y|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> Trinity College Library incurs expense, partly reimbursed from public funds, in receiving UK books and acting as a clearing house for Irish books sent for UK deposit.<ref name="Simpson1996">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/anglo-irish-double-whammy/99888.article|title=Anglo-Irish 'double whammy'|last=Simpson|first=William|date=19 July 1996|work=Times Higher Education|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref>

The [[Irish Free State]] in 1922 inherited the UK's [[Copyright Act 1911]] ([[1 & 2 Geo. 5]]. c. 46), which made Trinity College Library and those in the UK the legal deposits for UK-published books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1911/act/46/section/15/enacted/en/html|title=Copyright Act, 1911, Section 15|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> When the Free State's first copyright law was debated in 1927, it was decided to retain Trinity College Library rather than the NLI as the deposit for UK books, on the grounds of continuity.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1926120800024#N63|title=INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY (PROTECTION) BILL, 1926—THIRD STAGE (RESUMED).|date=8 December 1926 |quote=When we get a single copy of every book published in England we are going to continue what used to be the practice, and that book shall go to Trinity College, Dublin, on the grounds that the collection is already there, and that if it were diverted from Trinity College to, say, the National Library, you would only have a collection up to a certain period in Trinity College, and beyond that period in the National Library.|work=Dáil Éireann Debate|pages=Vol. 17 c.800|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref name="dail1963021400009">{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1963021400009#N482|title=Committee on Finance. — Copyright Bill, 1962—Committee Stage|date=14 February 1963|work=Dáil Éireann Debate|pages=Vol.199 No.11 p.9 cc.1475–6|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> It retains the status {{as of|2016|lc=y}}.<ref name="tcd">{{cite web|url=https://www.tcd.ie/library/collection-man/legal-deposit.php|title=Legal Deposit|work=The Library of Trinity College Dublin|date=10 June 2016|publisher=Trinity College Dublin|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> Originally the 1927 bill proposed only to add the NLI as a deposit for Free State publishing; [[Committee stage|in committee]] the three then constituent colleges of the NUI were added as well, while status of the lesser British libraries was reduced from automatic to by request.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1927012500035|title=ORDERS OF THE DAY. - INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL PROPERTY (PROTECTION) BILL, 1926—REPORT (Resumed— Amendment 8).|date=25 January 1927|work=Dáil Éireann Debate|pages=Vol. 18 No. 1|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1927/act/16/section/178/enacted/en/html#sec178|title=Industrial and Commercial Property (Protection) Act, 1927, Section 178|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> [[St Patrick's College, Maynooth|St Patrick's College]] (predecessor of [[NUI Maynooth]]) was added in 1963,<ref name="dail1963021400009"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1963/act/10/section/56/enacted/en/html#sec56|title=Copyright Act, 1963, Section 56|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> and UL and DCU in 1989 on promotion to university status.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1989/act/14/section/7/enacted/en/html#sec7|title=University of Limerick Act, 1989, Section 7|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1989/act/15/section/6/enacted/en/html#sec6|title=Dublin City University Act, 1989, Section 6|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=19 May 2017}}</ref> In 2000, the deposit requirement was extended to [[e-publishing]], and libraries could request digital copies in addition to hard copies.<ref name="irishstatutebook2000"/> In 2017, the NLI began a consultation on extending legal deposit to [[born-digital]] resources, which it had begun [[digital preservation|preserving]] in 2011 from voluntary deposits.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/04/consultation-on-the-legal-deposit-of-published-digital-material-in-the-21st-century-in-the-context-of-copyright-legislation.pdf |title=Consultation on the Legal Deposit of published digital material in the 21st century in the context of Copyright legislation |date=24 April 2017 |publisher=[[Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs]] |location=Dublin |access-date=19 May 2017 |archive-date=24 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424204921/http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/04/consultation-on-the-legal-deposit-of-published-digital-material-in-the-21st-century-in-the-context-of-copyright-legislation.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Israel===
In Israel, "The Books Law 2000 (5761)" requires two copies of each publication to be sent to the [[National Library of Israel]]. The library of the [[Knesset]] and the [[Israel State Archive]] are each entitled to receive one copy upon request.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.nli.org.il/en/at-your-service/who-we-are/depositing|title= Legal Deposit |website=National Library of Israel}}</ref>

The government authorities are required by the "Freedom of Information Act, 1999" to send an annual report of their actions to the public library of every town with 5,000 people or more.

===Italy===
{{see also|Media of Italy}}
In Italy, the law on legal deposit ([[s:it:Legge 15 aprile 2004, n.106 - Deposito legale|15 April 2004, n. 106]]) requires a copy of each publication to be sent to both the [[National Central Library (Florence)|National Central Library of Florence]] and [[National Central Library (Rome)|National Central Library of Rome]], as it has been since the institution of the [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Kingdom of Italy]] (1861).

In addition, the [[Regions of Italy|regions]] determine local regional and [[Provinces of Italy|provincial]] legal deposit libraries, which receive two more copies and often inherit that status from their pre-unification history. For instance, the [[Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense]] is the legal deposit library in [[Lombardy]] since 1788 (when it covered the [[Duchy of Milan]]) and the National Central Library of Florence since 1743 (for the [[Grand Duchy of Tuscany]]).

===Japan===
The legal deposit requirements for Japan's [[National Diet Library]] are specified in Chapters X through XI-3 of the National Diet Library Law.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndl.go.jp/en/aboutus/laws.html |title=National Diet Library Law |publisher=National Diet Library |access-date=2015-10-19}}</ref> These requirements vary based on whether the publishing entity is governmental or nongovernmental, and on whether the work is published physically or online. Required works are books, pamphlets, serials, music scores, maps, films, other documents or charts, phonographic records, and digital text, images, sounds, or programs. Nongovernmental publishers must submit a single copy, and are entitled to "compensation equivalent to the expenses usually required for the issue and deposit of the publication;" noncompliance is subject to a fine.

===Kenya===
In Kenya, the legal deposit regulation is covered under the [[Books and Newspaper Act]] Cap. 111 of 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.issafrica.org/cdct/mainpages/pdf/Terrorism/Legislation/Kenya/Kenya%20Books%20and%20Newspapers%20Act.pdf |title=Chapter 111: The Books and Newspapers Act |date=2002 |publisher=Parliament |access-date=May 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606203021/http://www.issafrica.org/cdct/mainpages/pdf/Terrorism/Legislation/Kenya/Kenya%20Books%20and%20Newspapers%20Act.pdf |archive-date=June 6, 2014}}</ref> It covers books (any volume), encyclopaedia, magazines, review, gazette, pamphlet, leaflet, sheet of letterpress, sheet of music, map, plan and chart. However, it gives exceptions to letter heading, price list, annual reports, trade circular, trade advertisement, government publications, legal, trade or business document. The Acts gives the mandate to [[Kenya National Library Service]] and the [[Registrar of Books and Newspapers]]. According to the Act, publishers should deposit two copies with the [[Director, Kenya National Library Service]] and not more than three copies to the Registrar of Books and Newspapers as it may be specified. The regulations were last reviewed in the year 2002 where penalties were specified for non-compliance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.knls.ac.ke/national-library|title=National Library|author=Ronald Makori|work=knls.ac.ke|access-date=2014-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140607010352/http://www.knls.ac.ke/national-library|archive-date=2014-06-07|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Liechtenstein===
The [[Liechtenstein State Library]], colloquially known as the State Library, was formally established by law by the National Library Foundation in 1961. The State Library possesses a legal depository. As per the amended statutes, the roles of the State Library changed as such: the State Library now functions as a national library as well as a scientific and public library. As a national library, the State Library collects print materials, pictures and music created by citizens of Liechtenstein as well as items related to Liechtenstein. Also, the State Library acts as a patent library for the Principality of Liechtenstein and as such provides access to comprehensive international patent information. The State Library's rules and regulations must follow the current legislation under [[European Economic Area|Liechtenstein's European Economic Area]] as well as Swiss legislation.<ref>retrieved from http://www.landesbibliothek.li {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016121518/https://www.landesbibliothek.li/ |date=2019-10-16 }}</ref>

===Macau===
Decree-Law No. 72/89/M requires that copies of works published in Macau be deposited with the [[Macao Central Library]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto-Lei n.º 72/89/M |trans-title=Decree-Law No. 72/89/M |url=https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/89/44/declei72.asp |access-date=2021-06-22 |language=pt |via=Imprensa Oficial}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Depósito Legal - Perguntas e Respostas |trans-title=Legal Deposit - Questions and Answers |url=https://isbn.library.gov.mo/pt/project/legal-deposit-publication/legal-q |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=Biblioteca Pública de Macau |language=pt}}</ref>

===Malaysia===
In Malaysia, according to the ''Akta Penyerahan Bahan Perpustakaan 1986'' (Deposit of Library Material Act 1986), five copies of printed library materials including books, printed materials, maps, charts and posters must be deposited to the [[National Library of Malaysia]]. In addition, two copies of non-printed library materials must also be deposited.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://depositori.pnm.gov.my/p/info_akta331 |title=Akta Penyerahan Bahan Perpustakaan 1986 (Akta 331) |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Mexico===
In Mexico, the ''General Library Law'' states that two specimens of each physical book, publication, magazine, newspaper, map, brochure, poster, music sheet, record, movie or photograph published should be donated to each of the following libraries: [[National Library of Mexico]], [[Biblioteca de México José Vasconcelos]], [[Library of the Congress of Mexico]], or one specimen if in electronic or digital format.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bnm.iib.unam.mx/index.php/biblioteca-nacional-de-mexico/deposito-legal/lineamientos |title=Lineamientos Deposito Legal Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico|language=es |format= |publisher=Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico | accessdate=January 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.diputados.gob.mx/sedia/biblio/doctos/Protocolo-entrega-Dep%C3%B3sito-Legal-2022.pdf |title=Protocolo entrega depósito legal |language=es |format= |publisher=Cámara de Diputados LXV Legislatura | accessdate=January 27, 2024}}</ref>

===Monaco===
In Monaco four copies of locally produced books, computer software and media must be deposited in the [[Bibliothèque Louis Notari]]. If fewer than 100 copies were produced only two copies are required.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gouv.mc/Dataweb/Jourmon.nsf/1d3d76afaadb3774c125656a00321782/c89a0581c5ddbb23c12572300056757d!OpenDocument|title=Ordonnance Souveraine n° 816 du 21 novembre 2006 portant application de la loi n° 1.313 du 29 juin 2006 sur le dépôt légal|access-date=28 January 2018|archive-date=26 January 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126135024/http://www.gouv.mc/Dataweb/Jourmon.nsf/1d3d76afaadb3774c125656a00321782/c89a0581c5ddbb23c12572300056757d!OpenDocument|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===New Zealand===
Legal deposit was initiated in 1903 in New Zealand, and currently requires that copies of all printed documents and offline electronic documents (e.g. DVDs) be sent to the [[National Library of New Zealand]] within 20 working days of publication. It also empowers the National Librarian to make copies of Internet documents including websites. If asked for assistance in making copies of their Internet documents, publishers must comply within 20 working days. This process is given legal force by Part 4 of the National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Act 2003,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/0019/latest/DLM192233.html|title=National Library of New Zealand (Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa) Act 2003, Part 4: Provision of copies of public documents to National Library|website=natlib.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> as well as three supporting requirements notices.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2004/0129/latest/DLM257801.html|title=National Library Requirement (Books and Periodicals) Notice 2004|website=legislation.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2006/0118/latest/DLM381515.html|title=National Library Requirement (Electronic Documents) Notice 2006|website=legislation.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2017/0180/latest/DLM7359360.html|title=National Library Requirement (Phonographic Documents) Notice 2017|website=legislation.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref> If more than 100 copies are printed in total, two copies must be provided, otherwise one. If the price of one copy is greater than $1,000 NZD, only one copy is required.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://natlib.govt.nz/publishers-and-authors/legal-deposit/whats-legal-deposit|title=What's Legal Deposit?|website=natlib.govt.nz|access-date=21 December 2022}}</ref>

===Norway===
Publications in Norway, "regardless of the format of publication", including digital documents, must be deposited with the [[National Library of Norway]].<ref>{{cite web
	| title = Legal deposit
	| access-date = 2025-01-28
	| website = National Library of Norway
	| url = https://www.nb.no/en/legal-deposit/
}}</ref>

=== Poland ===
Since 1780 the [[Załuski Library]] has been entitled to a copy of all works published in Poland. In modern times the issue is regulated by {{cite book |date=1997-03-06 |title=Dziennik Ustaw nr 29 poz. 161: Rozporządzenie Ministra Kultury i Sztuki z dnia 6 marca 1997 r. w sprawie wykazu bibliotek uprawnionych do otrzymywania egzemplarzy obowiązkowych poszczególnych rodzajów publikacji oraz zasad i trybu ich przekazywania. |language=pl |trans-title=Journal of Laws no. 29 pos. 161: Decree of the Minister of Culture and Art from 1997-03-06 regarding receiving legal deposits based on type and the rules and mode of deposit. |url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19970290161/O/D19970161.pdf }}

For software and traditional publications with a [[print run]] of up to 100 copies, the [[National Library of Poland]] and the [[Jagiellonian Library]] must receive one copy each, which are to be stored indefinitely. For publications with a larger run, they receive two copies, and 13 other libraries receive one, to be stored for ''no less than 50 years'': library of the [[Maria Curie-Skłodowska University]], library of the [[University of Łódź]], [[Nicolaus Copernicus University Library]], library of the [[Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań]], [[University of Warsaw Library]], library of the [[University of Wrocław]], [[Silesian Library]], [[City of Warsaw Library]], [[Pomeranian Library]] in Szczecin, library of the [[University of Gdańsk]], library of the [[Catholic University of Lublin]], library of the [[University of Opole]], and [[Podlaskie Library]] in Białystok.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bn.org.pl/dla-wydawcow/egzemplarz-obowiazkowy/liczba-egzemplarzy-obowiazkowych/ |title=Liczba egzemplarzy obowiązkowych |author=<!—Not stated—> |website=Biblioteka Narodowa |publisher= |access-date=2024-07-31 |language=pl |trans-title=Number of legal deposits }}</ref>

The [[Sejm Library]] additionally receives a copy of all legal documents.
Film productions are sent only to the [[National Film Library]] (''Filmoteka Narodowa'').

Legal deposits are handled free of charge by the [[Polish Post]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bn.org.pl/dla-wydawcow/egzemplarz-obowiazkowy/oplata-pocztowa-za-wysylke/ |title=Opłata pocztowa za wysyłkę |author=<!—Not stated—> |website=Biblioteka Narodowa |publisher= |access-date=2024-07-31 |language=pl |trans-title=Postage fee }}</ref> Failure to provide a legal deposit is penalised by fine.<ref>{{cite book |date=2018-03-06 |title=Dziennik Ustaw 2018 poz. 545: Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 6 marca 2018 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o obowiązkowych egzemplarzach bibliotecznych |language=pl |trans-title=Journal of Laws 2018 pos. 545: Announcement of the Marshal of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland from 2018-03-06 regarding a notice of a unified text of the statute on legal deposits |url=https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20180000545/O/D20180545.pdf }}</ref>

=== Portugal ===
In Portugal, all publishers are currently required to deposit 11 copies of all publications, which are distributed between the [[National Library of Portugal]], municipal libraries of major cities, and the libraries of public institutions of science and higher learning. Special exceptions, of which only one copy is required (and stored in the National Library), include Masters and PhD dissertations, limited prints, stamps, plans, posters, among others.

=== Romania ===
In Romania, all publishers are required to deposit copies of publications at the [[National Library of Romania]]. For books and brochures the minimum requirement is 7 copies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mandatory Deposit Laws in Selected Jurisdictions (2017 Update) |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/deposit-laws/mandatory-deposit-laws.pdf |website=The Law Library of Congress |access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref> For periodicals, school manuals and audiovisual publications, the legal deposit is 6 copies while for sheet music, atlases and maps the minimum requirement is 3 copies. Also, for PhD theses, the legal deposit is 1 copy.

=== Russia ===
In Russia the [[Russian State Library]] (Moscow), the [[National Library of Russia]] ([[St Petersburg]]), the [[Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences]] ([[St Petersburg]]), the [[State Public Scientific & Technological Library]] ([[Novosibirsk]]) as well as the libraries of the [[Moscow State University]], the [[President of the Russian Federation]], and the two Houses of the [[Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation]] are entitled to a copy of every book published.<ref>{{cite web |title=Перечень библиотечно-информационных организаций, получающих из Российской государственной библиотеки обязательный федеральный экземпляр печатных изданий, фонограмм и видеофильмов |url=https://docs.cntd.ru/document/456087815}}</ref>

===Singapore===
In Singapore, the ''[[National Library Board Act]]'' requires all publishers in Singapore to deposit two copies of every publication to the [[National Library Board]] at their own expense within four weeks from the publication date.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statutory Functions of National Library |url=https://www.nlb.gov.sg/About/StatutoryFunctionsofNationalLibrary.aspx#deposit |website=NLB |access-date=29 January 2019}}</ref>

===Slovenia===
The forerunner of the [[National and University Library of Slovenia]], the Lyceum Library of [[Ljubljana]] was  established around 1774 by a decree issued by [[Maria Theresa]] from the remains of the Jesuit Library and several monastery libraries. The submission of legal deposit copies to the Lyceum library became mandatory with a decree published by the Austrian court in 1807, at first only in [[Carniola]], except for a short period of French occupation, when it received copies from all the [[Illyrian provinces]]. In 1919, it was named ''State Reference Library'' and started to collect legal deposit copies from the [[Slovenia]] of the time. In the same year, the [[University of Ljubljana]] (the first Slovenian university) was established and the library served its needs too. In 1921, it started to acquire legal deposit copies from the entire [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]. It was named the University Library in 1938.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://search.theeuropeanlibrary.org/portal/en/libraryHistory.html?libraryid=39 |title=History & Collections - National and University Library of Slovenia |work=The European Library |first1=Mojca |last1=Savnik |first2=Dare |last2=Balažic |first3=Žiga |last3=Cerkvenik |publisher=Koninklijke Bibliotheek |access-date=2013-07-11 |archive-date=2012-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120525132103/http://search.theeuropeanlibrary.org/portal/en/libraryHistory.html?libraryid=39 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Digital Library of Slovenia|Digitalna knjižnica Slovenije]] ([http://www.dlib.si/?&language=eng Digital library of Slovenia]) is a project of the National and University Library of Slovenia.

===South Africa===
In South Africa the [[Legal Deposit Act, 1997]] requires publishers to provide five copies of every book published, if the [[print run]] consists of 100 or more copies. These copies must be deposited in the [[National Library of South Africa]] (NLSA) in [[Cape Town]], the NLSA in [[Pretoria]], the [[Mangaung Local Municipality|Mangaung]] Library Services in [[Bloemfontein]], the [[Msunduzi Local Municipality|Msunduzi]] Municipal Library in [[Pietermaritzburg]], and the Library of [[Parliament of South Africa|Parliament]] in Cape Town. If the print run is less than 100 copies, then only one copy is required, to be deposited in the NLSA in Cape Town. If it is less than 20 copies, then no deposit is required.

For films, videos and [[sound recording]]s, the requirements are the same, except that the [[National Archives of South Africa|National Film, Video and Sound Archives]] (NFVSA) receives a deposit copy instead of the Library of Parliament, and if only one copy is required it is deposited in the NFVSA rather than the NLSA.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nlsa.ac.za/NLSA/services/for%20publishers%20and%20authors/legal-deposit-information/legaldep.pdf |title=Legal Deposit Information |publisher=National Library of South Africa |access-date=21 July 2010}}</ref>

===South Korea===
Article 20 of the Library Act requires that one or two copies of any tangible material published or produced in the country be sent to the [[National Library of Korea]] within 30 days for permanent preservation. Copies of online materials must be submitted on demand.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legal Deposit and Acquisition |publisher=National Library of Korea |url=http://www.nl.go.kr/english/c3/page2.jsp |access-date=1 July 2016 |archive-date=2 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702064458/http://www.nl.go.kr/english/c3/page2.jsp |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Spain===
{{See also|Media of Spain}}
In Spain, the obligation to deposit copies of printed materials has existed since 1619 for the Royal Library of [[El Escorial]] and since 1716 for the Royal Library of Madrid (later the [[National Library of Spain]]).<ref name="Gallent">{{cite book |title=El depósito legal de obras impresas en España; su historia, su reorganización y resultados, 1958-1961. |last=Guastavino Gallent |first=Guillermo |year=1962 |publisher=Dirección General de Archivos y Bibliotecas |location=Madrid |language=es |oclc=6467776}}</ref>{{rp|8}} From this moment, there followed multiple provisions, in the 19th century termed "legal deposit", all with the aim of enforcing compliance.

The decree of 1957 established a solid administrative base for legal deposit in Spain, based on the separation between provincial offices that managed legal deposit at the local level and conservation libraries, such as the National Library. The decree stipulated that printers were responsible for depositing several copies of all published works at the National Library and other public libraries. This legal deposit legislation covered a wide range of materials, including printed materials such as books and magazines, sound recordings, maps, movies, and postcards.<ref name="Gallent" />{{rp|95–97}}

The 1957 decree, though superseded by other decrees in 1971 and 1973, remained almost intact until 2011, when a new legal deposit law was passed on July 29, 2011. Law 23/2011 established, among other things, that the publisher, not the printer, was the primary entity responsible for submitting its materials to legal deposit. It also established procedures for the legal deposit of electronic materials, including online ones.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Government of Spain |year=2011 |title=Ley 23/2011, de 29 de julio, de depósito legal |publication-date= 30 July 2011 |location=Madrid |language=es |pages=86716–86727 |url=http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2011/07/30/pdfs/BOE-A-2011-13114.pdf |access-date=May 3, 2022}}</ref> The number of copies that must be delivered to each library varies between two and four according to the type of material. Through legal deposit, the National Library collects all materials published in Spain. The central libraries for each [[Autonomous communities of Spain|autonomous community]] collect works published in their respective communities, and provincial libraries collect works published in their respective provinces.

===Sri Lanka===
First legal deposit of Sri Lanka was established in 1885 at the National Museum Library. The law of the country (according to National Archives Act No. 48 of 1973).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.commonlii.org/lk/legis/num_act/nal48o1973234/  |date=30 April 2005 |website= Sri Lanka Consolidated Acts|access-date=25 October 2016|title=National Archives Law (No. 48 of 1973)}}</ref> requires that a copy of every document printed in the country has to be deposited in the legal deposit. There are five legal deposits in the country. These are the [[National Archives of Sri Lanka]], the [[National Library of Sri Lanka]], the [[National Museum Library]], the [[University of Peradeniya library]] and the [[Library, University of Ruhuna]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lib.ruh.ac.lk/LD/?nav=legal|title=Legal deposit|date=30 April 2005|website=University of Ruhuna|access-date=25 October 2016}}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Sweden===
The Swedish Legal Deposit Act originates in 1661. According to present legislation, copies of printed material, sound and moving images has to be sent to [[National Library of Sweden|The National Library of Sweden]] and [[Lund University Library]] (no audiovisual material). In 2012 the Legal Deposit Act for Electronic Material was passed. It states that starting in 2015, publishing companies and public authorities must deliver digitally published content to the National Library. In 2013-14 electronic legal deposits will start in a smaller scale.

===Switzerland===
There is no federal law establishing legal deposit in Switzerland,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Surchat |first1=Pierre |title=Biblioteca nazionale svizzera (BN) |url=http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/i/I10351.php |website=Dizionario storico della Svizzera |access-date=27 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180216182025/http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/textes/i/I10351.php |archive-date=2018-02-16|language=it}}</ref> however, the cantons of [[Vaud]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Dépôt légal |url=https://www.bcu-lausanne.ch/depot-legal/ |website=BCU Lausanne |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703204842/http://www.bcu-lausanne.ch/depot-legal/ |archive-date=2017-07-03|language=fr}}</ref> [[Fribourg]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Dépôt légal fribourgeois |url=http://www2.fr.ch/bcuf/dynamic.aspx?c=1612 |website=Etat de Fribourg |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408211126/http://www2.fr.ch/bcuf/Dynamic.aspx?c=1612 |archive-date=2018-04-08|language=fr}}</ref> [[Canton of Geneva|Geneva]],<ref>{{cite web |title=DÉPÔT LÉGAL LE PATRIMOINE IMPRIMÉ DES GENEVOIS |url=http://institutions.ville-geneve.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/bge/documents/depot_legal_2014.pdf |website=Ville de Geneve |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729170112/http://institutions.ville-geneve.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/bge/documents/depot_legal_2014.pdf |archive-date=2016-07-29|language=fr}}</ref> and [[Ticino]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Archivio di Stato del Cantone Ticino |url=https://www4.ti.ch/decs/dcsu/osservatorio/risorse/operatori-culturali/dettaglio/?opeId=1&tipologia=1 |website=Osservatorio culturale del Cantone Ticino |access-date=28 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128234000/https://www4.ti.ch/decs/dcsu/osservatorio/risorse/operatori-culturali/dettaglio/?opeId=1&tipologia=1 |archive-date=2019-01-28|language=it}}</ref> have enacted legal deposit laws applying to books published within their respective jurisdictions. On a national level, the [[Swiss National Library]] (SNL) has voluntary agreements in place with the two main publishers' associations in the country; {{Ill|Schweizer Buchhandels- und Verlags-Verband|de}}, and Association Suisse des Diffuseurs, Editeurs et Libraires, under which the SNL receives a copy of every book published by associated publishers.<ref>{{cite web |title=Legal deposit |url=https://www.ifla.org/book/export/html/8302 |website=IFLA |access-date=29 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112225257/https://www.ifla.org/book/export/html/8302 |archive-date=12 November 2016}}</ref>

===Taiwan===
In Taiwan, the Library Act requires that a copy of a work should be deposited with the [[National Central Library]] and the Parliamentary Library of the [[Legislative Yuan]]. There are only two university library selected as Legal deposit destination — [[National Dong Hwa University Library]] and [[National Taiwan University]] Library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Túshū guǎn fǎ |script-title=zh:圖書館法-全國法規資料庫 |trans-title=Library Act |url=https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=H0010008 |access-date=2021-06-22 |via=Quanguo fagui ziliao ku |language=zh-Hant-TW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Legal Depository |url=https://enwww.ncl.edu.tw/qa_39.html |access-date=2021-06-22 |website=National Central Library |language=en}}</ref>

===United Kingdom===
{{see also|Media of the United Kingdom}}
There are six legal deposit libraries under UK law: the [[British Library]], the [[National Library of Scotland]], the [[National Library of Wales]], the [[Bodleian Library]] at [[Oxford University]], [[Cambridge University Library]], and [[Trinity College Dublin Library]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Introduction to legal deposit|url=http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/legaldeposit/introduction/|publisher=British Library|access-date=17 March 2014|archive-date=11 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311163352/http://www.bl.uk/aboutus/legaldeposit/introduction/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Although the [[Irish Free State]] left the UK in 1922, Trinity College remains a UK deposit library, and the UK libraries reciprocally retain deposit rights for Irish publications.<ref name="dail1963021400009"/><ref name="tcd"/>

Legal deposit in the United Kingdom traces its origins to an agreement between [[Sir Thomas Bodley]] and the [[Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers|Stationers' Company]] that copies of new books would be added to the Bodleian collection.<ref name="muir2005">{{cite thesis|title=Loughborough University Institutional Repository|work=lboro.ac.uk|date=January 2005 |hdl = 2134/8469|type=thesis |last1=Muir |first1=Adrienne }}</ref> The [[Statute of Anne]] (1710) formalised the practice by extending it, in England, to the Royal Library (now the British Library), Cambridge University, and the library of [[Sion College]], and, in Scotland, to the [[Advocates Library]] and the universities of [[University of St Andrews|St. Andrews]], [[University of Edinburgh|Edinburgh]], [[University of Glasgow|Glasgow]] and [[University of Aberdeen|Aberdeen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copyrighthistory.com/anne5.html|title=History of Copyright: Statute of Anne, 1710|work=copyrighthistory.com}}</ref> After the [[Acts of Union 1800|Union with Ireland]], an 1801 act extended deposit to Trinity College and [[King's Inns]] in Dublin.<ref name="Cosgrave1967">{{cite journal |last1=Cosgrave |first1=Liam |author1-link=Liam Cosgrave |title=The King's Inns |journal=Dublin Historical Record |date=1967 |volume=21 |issue=2 |page=51 |url=https://www.kingsinns.ie/cmsfiles/news/Dublin-Historical-Record-copy.pdf#page=4 |jstor=30104368 |issn=0012-6861}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge43britgoog|title=The Statutes at Large from the Magna Charta, to the End of the Eleventh Parliament of Great ...|date=July 2, 1801|publisher=Printed by J. Bentham|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> From 1814, publishers supplied institutions upon request rather than automatically.<ref name="Cosgrave1967"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101071954430&seq=861|title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. v. 54 (1814).|website=HathiTrust|series=Laws, etc |pages=63 v |last1=Rickards |first1=George K. }}</ref> In 1836, Sion College, King's Inns, and the Scottish universities were removed from the list, compensated with a book stipend equal to the average annual value of books deposited over the preceding three years.<ref name="Cosgrave1967"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.35112203454196&seq=680|title=The Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. v. 76= 6/7 Will IV.|website=HathiTrust| series=Laws, etc | pages=63 v | last1=Rickards | first1=George K. }}</ref> The [[Copyright Act 1911]] ([[1 & 2 Geo. 5]]. c. 46) gave limited deposit rights to the National Library of Wales, with full rights coming in 1987. The Advocates Library's right was transferred to the National Library of Scotland upon its 1925 creation.

The [[Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003]]<ref name="ukdeposit">[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/ukpga_20030028_en_1 The Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100203183316/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/ukpga_20030028_en_1 |date=2010-02-03 }}, applies to the United Kingdom.</ref> restates section 15 of the [[Copyright Act 1911]] ([[1 & 2 Geo. 5]]. c. 46),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Geo5/1-2/46|title=Copyright Act 1911|work=legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> that one copy of every book (which includes pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, sheet music and maps) published there must be sent to the British Library. The other five deposit libraries are entitled to request a free copy within one year of publication, a process which they normally coordinate jointly through [[Agency for the Legal Deposit Libraries]]. The 2003 Act sets out provisions for the deposit of non-print works. This legislation was updated with the introduction of secondary legislation, The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013,<ref>[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/777/pdfs/uksi_20130777_en.pdf ''The Legal Deposit Libraries (Non-Print Works) Regulations 2013''], SI 2013/77</ref> which make provision for the legal deposit of works published online or offline in formats other than print, such as websites, blogs, e-journals and CD-ROMs. Social media content is included in the legislation, but not private message sent via social media platforms. Pure video streaming websites are also excluded from the legislation.<ref>{{cite web|title=Non-print legal deposit: FAQs|url=http://www.bl.uk/catalogues/search/non-print_legal_deposit.html|publisher=British Library|access-date=17 March 2014}}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the purpose of legal deposits is to "preserve knowledge and information for future generations and 'maintain the national published archive of the British Isles'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/digital-legal-deposit/uk.php|title=Digital legal deposit: United Kingdom|date=2018|website=Library of Congress|access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref> The purpose and intent for preserving publications for national posterity applied to other countries as well, including the United States. According to Thomas Lidman, "[l]egal deposit is the foundation on which to build national library services, it helps to ensure that the country's intellectual heritage will be preserved and available for study".<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Lidman|first=Thomas|date=2012|title=Libraries and archives: A comparative study|journal=Chandos Information Professional Series|pages=53–68|jstor=}}</ref>

===United States===
{{See also|Media of the United States}}

In the United States, the [[Copyright Act of 1976|Copyright Act]] requires that any copyrighted and published work must be submitted in two copies to the [[United States Copyright Office]] at the [[Library of Congress]]. The Library of Congress does not retain all works.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copyright.gov/circs/circ07d.pdf|title=Library of Congress Mandatory Deposit Rules|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> This mandatory deposit is not required to possess copyright of unpublished works, but a [[copyright registration]] can give an author enhanced remedies in case of a copyright violation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.copyright.gov/register/|title=U.S. Copyright Office - Online Services (eCO: Electronic Copyright Office)<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=28 January 2018}}</ref> This optional registration also requires depositing two copies of the work and therefore also satisfies mandatory deposit requirements. If a foreign publisher distributes works in the US, they must also comply with the mandatory requirements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/mandatory_deposit.html|title=Mandatory deposit|date=n.d.|website=US Copyright Office|access-date=October 13, 2019}}</ref>

In August 2023, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit]] ruled in ''[[Valancourt Books v. Garland]]'' that the mandatory deposit requirement is an unconstitutional violation of property rights. The separate deposit requirement to optionally register copyright, however, remains in place.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brittain |first1=Blake |last2=Brittain |first2=Blake |url=https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-appeals-court-curbs-copyright-offices-mandatory-deposit-policy-2023-08-29/|title=US appeals court curbs Copyright Office's mandatory deposit policy |work=Reuters |date=29 August 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite court |litigants=Valancourt Books, LLC v. Garland |vol=82 |reporter=F.4th |opinion=1222 |pinpoint= |court=D.C. Cir.  |date=20023 |url=https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=5308485096420946891}}</ref>

Another type of depository library in the United States are [[Federal depository library|federal depository libraries]], which are entitled to free copies of all materials (digital, print, microform, etc.) published by the [[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Publishing Office]]. By accepting these materials, the libraries commit to providing free public access to the depository collection, and they agree to hold the materials for no fewer than five years (with some exceptions); large "regional" depositories also commit to holding these materials indefinitely. There are currently 1,114 such depository libraries in the United States, though the number of federal publications each receives varies based upon their selection profile.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://catalog.gpo.gov/fdlpdir/ |title=FDLP Library Directory|website=catalog.gpo.gov}}</ref> This [[Federal Depository Library Program]] (FDLP) is not affiliated with the Library of Congress and should not be confused with the aforementioned copyright deposit program.

==See also==
* {{annotated link|Institutional repository}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/digital-legal-deposit/digital-legal-deposit.pdf|title=Digital Legal Deposit in Selected Jurisdictions|author=The Law Library of Congress, Global Legal Research Center|date=July 2018}} Includes Australia, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand Norway, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom.
* {{cite book | title=Public Rights: Copyright's Public Domains|series= Cambridge Intellectual Property and Information Law|volume= 45 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IBcDwAAQBAJ|first1=Graham |last1=Greenleaf|first2= David|last2= Lindsay|publisher=Cambridge University Press|date=2018|isbn=9781108577151}}
* [http://archive.ifla.org/VII/s1/pub/legal_deposit_2004-e.pdf Visibility of International Recommendations for Legal Deposit of Publications in National Legislations] (2004). Report to the [[International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions|IFLA]] Standing Committee, Buenos Aires. Claudia Bazán, Universidad Nacionalde Mar del Plata
* Jules Larivière (2000). [http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001214/121413Eo.pdf ''Guidelines for legal deposit legislation''] (A revised, enlarged and updated edition), Paris, [[UNESCO]].
* {{cite journal |author=Hazel K. Bell |date=November 1992 |title=Legal deposit in Euston Street |journal=Serials |volume=5 |issue=3 |pages=53–57 |doi=10.1629/050353 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |author=Kenneth D. Crews  |date=November 1988|title=Legal Deposit in Four Countries: Laws and Library Services |journal=American Association of Law Libraries |volume=80 |issue=4 |ssrn=1773025 }}
* Library and Archives Canada (1982). ''Legal Deposit at the [then named] National Library of Canada'' = ''Le Dépôt légal à la Bibliothèque nationale du Canada''. Ottawa: [[National Library of Canada]]. Text, printed ''tête-bêche'', in English and in French. {{ISBN|0-662-52131-5}}

{{Libraries and library science}}
{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Deposit libraries| ]]
[[Category:Copyright law]]
[[Category:Library law]]