In the UK I know it's not ok to e.g make a photocopy of a standard construction contract and, I'm guessing, any other type of contract where copyright is claime

In the UK I know it's not ok to e.g make a photocopy of a standard construction contract and, I'm guessing, any other type of contract where copyright is claimed by the author. In a contractual dispute, if it can be shown that you do not generally act in good faith, by infringing copyright in this case, it can be used as evidence to call into question your intention to carry out your obligations under the contract and therefore a judge could decide that the other party may be relinquished from thier obligations. UK contract law is pretty complicated though and IANAL by the way. Edited for clarity.