The copyright status of work by U.S. state governments is defined by the respective state laws as opposed to the federal copyright status of work by the U.S. government.
The federal law does not apply to state or municipal governments, District of Columbia,[1] Puerto Rico,[2] or "organized territories" under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Government.[3]
Many state and local governments copyright their works.[4]
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In the state of California the California Appeals Court (with statewide jurisdiction) in County of Santa Clara v. California First Amendment Coalition has ruled that the government may not claim copyright on public records.[5] The California Public Records Act requires that agencies with custody of "public records are open to inspection at all times during the office hours [6][7]
The Florida Constitution require most works produced by the Government of Florida and any county, district, authority, or municipal officer, department, division, board, bureau, commission, or other separate unit of government created or established by law be considered to be in the public domain.[8]