Yes, you can. You can copy & distribute (even sell) any law in the nation freely. Once adopted by a jurisdiction (city/state/federal) they are considered public property. To quote a Federal Court a long time ago: "It was suggested in argument that no one can obtain the exclusive right to publish the laws of a state in a book prepared by him. This general proposition cannot be doubted. And it may also be said that any person desiring to publish the statutes of a state may use any copy of such statutes to be found in any printed book, whether such book is the property of the state or the property of an individual. Howell v. Miller, 91 F. 129, 137 (6th Cir. 1898). -matt redmond > > From: Josh Koffman > Date: 2004/08/25 Wed PM 09:35:52 GMT > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU > Subject: Re: [OT:] Wiring detached garage (reprise) > > I agree with you, but just out of curiousity, can you do any of that > with the criminal code (or whatever it's called down there)? I've > never tried to look at it, but I bet I could view it or photocopy it > at a library. I'm sure it's the same with the NEC. I sincerely doubt > there is an office that sends out free copies of all the laws in the > USA. > > Or I might be way off base. > > Josh > -- > A common mistake that people make when trying to design something > completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete > fools. > -Douglas Adams > > On Wed, 25 Aug 2004 21:31:10 +0000, Matt Redmond wrote: > > I don't dispute any of that, and I certainly admire their work - but that's not the point. The point is that laws - all laws - belong (or should belong) to the public and should be freely available. 'Free' does not mean 'free if you care to drive to the city secretary's office'. > > > > If I'm going to be held to the letter of a law under the threat of criminal or civil penalties, then by God I have the right to have a copy of that law in my hands for ready reference - at no cost beyond perhaps photocopying it. > > -- > http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics > (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics > -- http://www.piclist.com hint: The list server can filter out subtopics (like ads or off topics) for you. See http://www.piclist.com/#topics