The state of California claims copyright of its laws and insists that no one can store, publish, or make copies of those laws without permission...even though everyone living or doing business in the state is required to know those laws. By forcing people to pay for a digital download or printed version of its laws, California raises approximately $880,000 every year.
Carl Malamud thinks this is outrageous and has begun publishing copies of California laws online. This isn't the first state he's taken on. He's already convinced Oregon to abandon its claim of copyright over its laws. Head over to his site to download some law or make a donation. You can read a bit more about his quest here. Via.
I haven't watched it yet, but here's a talk Malamud gave at Google in 2006:
*Previously: Cupcake shop claims exclusive rights to selling cupcakes with two circles on top.
*Buy Kim Stanley Robinson's terrific Three Californias at Amazon.
Carl Malamud is daring the state of California to sue him for copyright infringement
Labels:
california,
hero,
intellectual property,
law