Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988: Primary UK legislation governing copyright protection, including authors' rights, duration of copyright, moral rights provisions, and the assignment and licensing of rights

Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999: Legislation governing third-party rights and contract enforceability in publishing agreements

Consumer Rights Act 2015: Legislation protecting individual authors as consumers and ensuring fairness of contract terms

Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013: Regulations providing additional protection for individual authors, including information requirements and cancellation rights

Electronic Commerce Regulations 2002: Regulations governing digital publishing and electronic commerce aspects of publishing agreements

Berne Convention: International treaty providing copyright protection across member states for literary and artistic works

Universal Copyright Convention: International treaty establishing basic copyright protections across signatory nations for published works

EU Retained Law: Post-Brexit retained EU legislation including relevant copyright directives that continue to apply in UK law

Common Law Contract Principles: Fundamental principles including offer, acceptance, consideration, intention to create legal relations, and capacity to contract

Equitable Principles: Legal principles ensuring fairness, reasonableness, and good faith in contractual dealings

Industry Guidelines: Best practices and standards from organizations like the Society of Authors and Publishers Association, including standard royalty arrangements