Two Decades of Copyright and the Law: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of research on copyright and the law, aiming to map scholarly developments, thematic directions, and collaborative patterns over the past two decades. The problem arises from the increasing complexity of copyright regulation in a rapidly evolving technological environment, where digital dissemination, artificial intelligence and cross border content flows continue to challenge the adequacy of traditional legal frameworks. To address this issue, the study employs a systematic methodology beginning with Scopus advanced searching, which generated an initial dataset subsequently refined to 1,549 publications after applying inclusion criteria. The dataset was cleaned and harmonised using OpenRefine to ensure consistent author, keyword and institutional information. Statistical trends and graphical insights were derived from the Scopus Analyzer, while VOSviewer was used to visualise co authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence structures and country-based research clusters. The numerical results indicate a steady growth of publications with marked increases in recent years corresponding to intensified debates on digital rights, AI generated content and international harmonisation of copyright standards. The United States, United Kingdom and Germany emerge as dominant contributors, while nine keyword clusters reveal core themes such as copyright law, intellectual property, fair use, authorship, artificial intelligence and digital rights management. Collaboration mapping identifies eight clusters of international partnerships, reflecting strong networks in Europe and rising participation from rapidly digitalising countries. The study concludes that research on copyright and the law is expanding in complexity and scope, driven by technological innovations and evolving legal norms. The findings offer a structured overview of the intellectual landscape, providing a solid foundation for future inquiry and guiding policymakers and scholars in anticipating emerging regulatory challenges in the copyright domain.