Many significant events have occurred in the evolution of intellectual property since the late 1600s. Intellectual property law has been amended and changed as technology has changed.

1662 - English Licensing Act of 1662
1709 - Basic copyright law established by the  Statute of Anne
1787 - Article I, Section 8, Clause 8 of the United State Consitution gives authors and inventors "exclusive" rights to their product
1806 - First German copyright law established; French design law established
1836 - United States patent office established
1857 - Trademark law established in France
1870 - United States issues first trademark
1878 - International Trademark Association originated
1883 - Paris Convention establishes the protection of industrial property
1886 - Berne Convention (protection of literary and artistic works)
1891 - International Copyright law established, giving European authors the opportunity to receive profit for sales in America
1909 - United States copyright law prohibits "unauthorized" mechanical reproductions of musical compositions
1967 - United Nations establishes the World Intellectual Property Organization
1990 - Congress amends the copyright act to prohibit commercial lending of computer software
1994 - Conference on Fair Use meets, sponsored by the Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights
1995 - (TRIPS) Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property goes into effect
2000 - Patent Law Treaty