Who owns the law in Georgia?

[Disir]

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court will take up that question as the justices consider whether the annotated version of Georgia code is protected under copyright law or should be made available to the public free of charge.

The hotly disputed case, pitting the state against an open records proponent, has caught the attention of the Trump administration, whose lawyers say Georgia’s code should be protected. At the same time, news media and civil rights organizations are also weighing in, contending the public should have unhindered access to the state code.

What is not in dispute is whether the laws enacted by the General Assembly can be subject to copyright protection — they can’t be. But the annotated code, essentially a reference guide filled with summaries of court decisions and legal writings, is a different matter altogether.

The case began four years ago when Georgia sued California-based public records activist Carl Malamud after he refused to stop publishing the annotated code on his Public.Resource.Org website. In October 2018, the federal appeals court in Atlanta ruled in Malamud’s favor, finding the code cannot receive copyright protection.
Who owns the law in Georgia?

This should be available to the people free of charge. I'm not a fan of Lexus Nexus.

 

[Bo Didleysquat]

Who owns the law in Georgia?

Whoever has the most money, like the nation as a whole.

 

[Disir]

Who owns the law in Georgia?

Whoever has the most money, like the nation as a whole.

Didn't read it, eh?

 

[Bo Didleysquat]

Who owns the law in Georgia?

Whoever has the most money, like the nation as a whole.

Didn't read it, eh?

Not taking issue with the concept, eh?

 

[Disir]

Who owns the law in Georgia?

Whoever has the most money, like the nation as a whole.

Didn't read it, eh?

Not taking issue with the concept, eh?

Ok. Newsflash, asshole, different section of the site. Welcome to ignore.

 

[C_Clayton_Jones]

If LexisNexis’ contract with the State is not profitable, it’s at liberty to end its contract with the State, not seek copyright protection.

Moreover, that the contract is administered by a state commission renders LexisNexis an agent of the state giving the people free access to the annotated version of Georgia code, of which the people are indeed owners.

That government might ‘farm out’ the duties of the state to private sector entities doesn’t remove from government its responsibility to the people.