This act was passed to update the legislation on legal deposit to reflect the digital age.

The previous provisions covering legal deposit in the United Kingdom were under the Copyright Act 1911 (1 & 2 Geo.

They covered published paper products of almost all types, excluding only ephemera such as diaries and bus timetables.

A voluntary set of rules for deposit had been drawn up a few years earlier but it was felt that the additional force of statute was required to ensure the British national published record remained complete.

The 2003 act includes provisions for the deposit of non-print publications such as CD-ROMs and copies of websites.

The Secretary of State is given powers to make regulations governing the deposit of non-print publications.