The copyright law was established in

The world's first copyright law was the Statute of Anne, enacted in England in 1710.
This Act introduced for the first time the concept of the author of a work being the owner of its copyright, and laid out fixed terms of protection.

When did copyright laws begin? The Constitution gives Congress the power to enact laws establishing a system of copyright in the United States.
Congress enacted the first federal copyright law in May 1790, and the first work was registered within two weeks.
Originally, claims were recorded by clerks of U.S. district courts.