Softcopies of NEC and other relavent professional codes may soon be free

[Southern]

A buddy sent this to me, and it may be of interest to the group. Basically
it says that model codes that become part of local building codes are no
longer covered by copyright.

Supreme Court decided not to accept for review a decision out of Texas .
The issue arose when a website that posts copies of public law and
regulations published a recently adopted building code for two towns which
was the model code. The people who develop the model code screamed
copyright violation.

The meat of the matter seems to be that if a model code is accepted into
law, then any copyright on it is unenforceable since the law can not be
privately copyrighted. The item at issue was building code. However it
would be applicable for the codes we use as well.

Some Links:
http://www.abanet.org/antitrust/committees/intell_property/hiddencost.html
http://www.gtwassociates.com/answers/veeck.htm
http://regionalweb.texoma.net/cr/filings.htm

Al Columbo, Rob (Alarm Review) any thoughts from an industry perspective?

First one to fine the complete NEC on line should post here

 

[J. Stevens]

Yes. I always considered it outrageous that I have to pay for a copy of the
rules I'm bound by law to follow.
js

 

[G. Morgan]

Yes. I always considered it outrageous that I have to pay for a copy of the
rules I'm bound by law to follow.

That was pretty much my point. I could see charging for the printed
hard copies, but the NFPA website should be searchable for free.

-Graham