The legislative decree 169/99, which acknowledges the European directive 9/96, edits some parts of the law on author rights (n. 633, 22nd April 1941). The new law (n. 248, 18th August 2000) doesn’t modify anything concerning with database as it only reconfirms the legislative decree 169/99 as far as the penal aspects are concerned. Summary: History and presuppositions – Double-protection system – Definition of the word database – Principle and Criteria of the Italian legislative decree – New rules for the movements in the market – Sui generis right – Forms and objects of protection – authors and creators rights – The new law 18th August 2000 – Users rights.