Pennsylvania Act 1997-39 — DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Act text

AN ACT

Permitting distribution of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' topographic and geologic survey without registration of a copyright; and permitting copying and distribution of previously copyrighted publications of the survey.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of policy.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) The topographic and geologic survey compiled by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides important information about the character of this Commonwealth's resources.

(2) The results of the topographic and geologic survey should be readily accessible to the agricultural, forestry, mining, metallurgical and other interests of this Commonwealth and to the public.

(3) The current statutory requirement that all publications of the topographic and geologic survey be protected by copyright severely restricts their accessibility.

(4) In enacting this act, it is the intent of the General Assembly that publications of the topographic and geologic survey no longer be subject to a statutory copyright requirement and that such publications that have previously been copyrighted may be copied and distributed without permission of the Commonwealth.

Section 2. No copyright registration required.

The topographic and geologic survey and any part thereof compiled by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may be copied and distributed without registration of a copyright.

Section 3. Previously copyrighted materials may be distributed.

Any publication of the topographic and geologic survey or part thereof for which a copyright was registered or was in the process of being registered prior to the enactment of this act may be copied and distributed without permission or a license from the Commonwealth.

Section 4. Repeals.

All acts and parts of acts are repealed insofar as they are inconsistent with this act.

Section 5. Effective date.

This act shall take effect immediately.