An Act To Prohibit Copyrights For Works Of State Government

This bill prohibits the State of Maine from claiming copyright protection for its official works, such as reports, documents, and other materials created by state agencies. It specifically excludes merchandise sold by state departments and does not affect copyrights the state already holds or receives through transfer (e.g., by assignment or inheritance). The law ensures that government-created content remains freely accessible to the public without copyright restrictions. Existing copyrights for state works created before the bill's effective date are unaffected by this change.