This article is an introduction to legal deposit and the current legislation in Colombia. Legal deposit is the obligation of any person or entity that publishes documents to deliver a copy to a national institution in order to preserve the documentary heritage. Legal deposit is framed as a legal concept that is an essential part of the country's cultural policies. We present a brief chronological outline of its development, with special emphasis on development in Colombia since 1834. The article highlights that legal deposit has been modified according to the evolution of information technology. The article shows the evolution of its functions and objectives. The current status of legal deposit legislation in Colombia is analyzed. We conclude that in Colombia legal deposit legislation is scattered, lacks clear objectives, and outdated, which requires a legislative amendment that takes into account technological advances such as Internet publications.