This series consists of legal-type folders containing forms for the registration or assignment of copyright of literary, dramatic and musical productions, lectures etc.  Each folder is marked with a sequential number (usually with a "B" suffix) which corresponds to the entry in the copyright register AP494/9.  It may also show applicant's name and date on the outside.  The folders may contain copies of the associated manuscript, leaflet, newspaper music score etc and a range of forms depending on the action taken.

The most commonly occurring document is form "[H] The Copyright Act, 1878, Schedule III, Part I, Form of Requiring Entry of Proprietoship" which is the application to include the item in the register of copyright, AP494/9.  Form [H] has the following columns: title of book; name of publisher and place of publication; name and place of abode of proprietor of the copyright; date of publication.

The folder may include form "[G] Form of Receipt Given on Delivery of Book at South Australian Institute".

In some cases the folder contains form "[I] The Copyright Act, 1878, Schedule IV, Part I, Form of Concurrence of the Party Assigning Copyright in Any Book Previously Registered".  This form includes the following: title of book; assignors of the copyright; assignee of copyright.  There are corresponding entries in the register AP494/9 in these cases.

This series was transferred to State Archives by Patents Sub-Office in April 1956 and then to Commonwealth Archives Office on 2 October 1968 (State Archives correspondence dated 7 October 1968 refers).

The series was reprocessed into acid free folders, reboxed and entered on ANGAM to facilitate access by title and author or assignee.

AP476/4 was relocated from South Australia to the ACT in September 2021