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Minnesota Statutes: Access, Use, Copies, and Copyright

Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.08, directs the Office of the Revisor of Statutes to publish the Minnesota Statutes. The Office of the Revisor of Statutes copyrights Minnesota Statutes for the state of Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.12, subdivision 2.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I get free access to Minnesota Statutes? Yes!

Minnesota Statutes is available online without charge and without registration requirements. The revisor's office also distributes print volumes of the statutes to libraries throughout the state.

Can I copy the text of the statutes either from print or on the Web? Generally, yes!

Fair use of Minnesota Statutes under 17 U.S.C., section 107, is encouraged. Members of the public may reproduce parts of Minnesota Statutes for personal use. On request of a patron of a library, librarians may reproduce parts of the statutes and distribute them to the patron. Parts of Minnesota Statutes may also be reproduced and distributed for educational purposes, so long as any charges only recover those costs.

Can I link? Yes!

We encourage links to our Web site! No permission is necessary unless access to the link must be purchased by the user.

When do I need permission to reproduce the statutes in print or on a Web site?

If you wish to reproduce and sell all or any part of the statutes for a profit in a print version or on a Web site, please ask our permission to do so.

Why do you copyright your statutes?

Minnesota Statutes is designated as the official version under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.13. In addition, Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.12, subdivision 2, requires the revisor to "send the appropriate number (of copies) to the Library of Congress for copyright and depository purposes." We believe that copyright helps us to ensure that you receive the most correct, current statutes available. We can ensure that there are options to access the statutes without charge. If others want to reproduce our statutes for sale, we can give our permission to do so and require receipt of timely updates. Finally, we compile and edit the statutes, and the copyright ensures that the state of Minnesota receives some reimbursement for its costs of adding value to the statutes from those that sell them for a profit.

What does it mean to compile and edit the statutes?

The revisor's office compiles the statutes into a code and assigns chapter names and numbers and section numbers and headnotes. We determine when and how multiple amendments to the statutes are merged into the text and when there are conflicts. We add notes to give important information to the reader, such as effective dates, delayed repeals, conflicts, and court decisions on constitutionality. To help you find the law you need, Minnesota Statutes on our Web site has search capabilities and indexes, and the print version contains an index and other finding aids.

Which version of the statutes is official?

The Uniform Electronic Legal material Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3E, was implemented for Minnesota Statutes on October 9, 2014. Under chapter 3E, authenticated PDF versions of Minnesota Statutes are official, as well as the print version under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.13.

What if I need a certified copy?

If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, the Revisor’s office provides this service upon request for a small fee.

How can I purchase the print edition of Minnesota Statutes?

The print edition of Minnesota Statutes can be purchased from Minnesota's Bookstore. The price reflects the cost of composing, printing, and distributing the volumes.

Laws of Minnesota: Access, Use, Copies, and Copyright

Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.08, directs the Office of the Revisor of Statutes to publish the Laws of Minnesota. The Office of the Revisor of Statutes copyrights Laws of Minnesota for the state of Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.12, subdivision 2.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I get free access to Laws of Minnesota? Yes!

Laws of Minnesota is available online without charge and without registration requirements. The Revisor’s office also distributes print volumes of the Laws to libraries throughout the state.

Can I copy the text of the Laws either from print or on the Web? Generally, yes!

Fair use of Laws of Minnesota under 17 U.S.C., section 107, is encouraged. Members of the public may reproduce parts of Laws of Minnesota for personal use. On request of a patron of a library, librarians may reproduce parts of the Laws and distribute them to the patron. Parts of Laws of Minnesota may also be reproduced and distributed for educational purposes, so long as any charges only recover those costs.

Can I link? Yes!

We encourage links to our Web site! No permission is necessary unless access to the link must be purchased by the user.

When do I need permission to reproduce Laws of Minnesota in print or on a Web site?

If you wish to reproduce and sell all or any part of the Laws of Minnesota for a profit in a print version or on a Web site, please ask our permission to do so.

Why do you copyright your Laws?

Laws of Minnesota is designated as the official version under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.13. In addition, Minnesota Statues, section 3C.12, subdivision 2, requires the Revisor to “send the appropriate number (of copies) to the Library of Congress for copyright and depository purposes.” We believe that copyright helps us to ensure that you receive the most correct, current Laws of Minnesota available. We can ensure that there are options to access the Laws of Minnesota without charge. If others want to reproduce the Laws for sale, we can give our permission to do so and require receipt of timely updates. Finally, we compile and edit Laws of Minnesota, and the copyright ensures that the state of Minnesota receives some reimbursement for its costs of adding value to the Laws from those that sell them for a profit.

What does it mean to compile and edit the Laws of Minnesota?

The Revisor’s office assigns chapter numbers to acts enacted in a legislative session and may change or add statutory section numbers and headnotes. Manifest clerical errors are corrected. The publication gives the date the act was presented to the governor and the date it was signed or vetoed by the governor. Line item vetos are noted. To help you find the law you need,our Web site version of Laws of Minnesota has search capabilities and indexes, and the print version contains an index and other finding aids.

Which version of the Laws of Minnesota is official?

The Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3E, was implemented for Laws of Minnesota on June 28,2014. Under chapter 3E, authenticated PDF versions of Laws of Minnesota are official, as well as the print version under Minnesota Statutes, section 3C.13.

What if I need a certified copy?

If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, the Revisor’s office provides this service upon request for a small fee.

How can I purchase the print edition of Laws of Minnesota?

The print edition of Laws of Minnesota can be purchased from Minnesota's Bookstore. The price reflects the cost of composing, printing, and distributing the volumes.

Minnesota Rules: Access, Use, Copies, and Copyright

Minnesota Statutes, section 14.47, directs the Office of the Revisor of Statutes to publish Minnesota Rules. The Office of the Revisor of Statutes copyrights Minnesota Rules for the state of Minnesota under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.47, subdivision 8.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can I get free access to Minnesota Rules? Yes!

Minnesota Rules is available online without charge and without registration requirements. The Revisor’s office also distributes print volumes of the Minnesota Rules to libraries throughout the state.

Can I copy the text of the rules either from print or on the Web? Generally, yes!

Fair use of Minnesota Rules under 17 U.S.C., section 107, is encouraged. Members of the public may reproduce parts of Minnesota Rules for personal use. On request of a patron of a library, librarians may reproduce parts of the rules and distribute them to the patron. Parts of Minnesota Rules may also be reproduced and distributed for educational purposes, so long as any charges only recover those costs.

Can I link? Yes!

We encourage links to our Web site! No permission is necessary unless access to the link must be purchased by the user.

When do I need permission to reproduce the rules in print or on a Web site?

If you wish to reproduce and sell all or any part of Minnesota Rules for a profit in a print version or on a Web site, please ask our permission to do so.

Why do you copyright the rules?

Minnesota Rules is designated as the official version under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.37. In addition, Minnesota Statutes, section 14.47, subdivision 8, requires the Revisor to “send the appropriate number (of copies) to the Library of Congress for copyright and depository purposes.” We believe that copyright helps us to ensure that you receive the most correct, current Minnesota Rules available. We can ensure that there are options to access the Minnesota Rules without charge. If others want to reproduce the Rules for sale, we can give our permission to do so and require receipt of timely updates. Finally, we compile and edit the Minnesota Rules, and the copyright ensures that the state of Minnesota receives some reimbursement for its costs of adding value to the Rules from those that sell them for a profit.

What does it mean to compile and edit the rules?

The Revisor’s office compiles the agency rules into a code and assigns chapter names and numbers and section numbers and headnotes. We add notes to give important information to the reader, such as effective dates and delayed repeals. To help you find the rule you need, Minnesota Rules on our Web site has search capabilities and indexes, and the print version contains an index and other finding aids.

Which version of the rules is official?

The Uniform Electronic Legal Material Act, Minnesota Statutes, chapter 3E, was implemented for Minnesota Rules in January, 2014.  Under chapter 3E, authenticated PDF versions of Minnesota Rules are official, as well as the print version under Minnesota Statutes, section 14.37.  Please note, however, that the online version of Minnesota Rules is published to the web more frequently than the print version, which is updated annually.

What if I need a certified copy?

If you need a certified copy for legal purposes, the Revisor’s office provides this service upon request for a small fee.

How can I purchase the print edition of Minnesota Rules?

The print edition of Minnesota Rules can be purchased from Minnesota's Bookstore. The price reflects the cost of composing, printing, and distributing the volumes.