The widespread use of digital media today and its possibilities for distribution and reproduction are moving intellectual property rights into the center of public attention and making them a permanent issue - nationally, across Europe and internationally. But how has the global expansion of intellectual property rights developed since the late 19th century? In this study, Isabella Löhr shows how closely the worldwide introduction of copyrights was linked to two other historical processes: The globalization of society, culture and economy since the middle of the 19th century led to the establishment and expansion of international organizations that were first of all on property rights organizational place in international politics.