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The advisory opinion library currently includes:
  • Data practices advisory opinions issued by the Commissioner of Administration from 1993 to the present.
  • Open Meeting Law advisory opinions issued by the Commissioner of Administration from 2003 to the present.
The Commissioner's authority is found in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.072. Opinions are nonbinding, but a court may give them deference in a court action. Parties to a court action that act in conformity with an advisory opinion are not liable for certain damages or attorneys fees.
A written, numbered, and published opinion issued by the attorney general shall take precedence over an advisory opinion issued by the Commissioner of Administration.
Results 1 - 5 of 5
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Is the unpublished manuscript written by an individual under contract to the Foundation for Minneapolis Parks government data, as that term is defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 13.02, subdivision 7? If the manuscript is government data, what is its classification? If the manuscript is government data and its classification is public data, can the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board refuse to provide copies of the data because it is copyrighted by a third party, private entity?
Category: Government Data
Keywords: Government Data, Inspection allowed, copying only with permission, Copyright, Includes data not created by maintaining entity
Commissioner: Dana B. Badgerow
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13, did the Ramsey/Washington County Suburban Cable Commission respond appropriately to a request for access to inspect and/or obtain a copy of a videotape of a particular television program?
Category: Response to data requests, Inspection
Keywords: Response to data requests, Inspection, Cable Commission, Copyright, Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information), Classification (subd. 2), Form of records, Copyright
Commissioner: David F. Fisher
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Does St. Louis County's requirement of a subscription agreement and fee of $600 to gain access, via the Internet, to inspect certain real property and property tax data hamper, infringe, or violate the requestor's rights under Minnesota Statutes, section 13.03, subdivision 1?
Category: Electronic data, Inspection
Keywords: Electronic data, Inspection, Copyright, Enhanced data, Remote access, Subscription fees, Electronic data, email, Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information), Remote access
Commissioner: David F. Fisher
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Upon request, must Morrison County provide a computer-readable copy of the real property data sought by World Wide Data, Inc., to the extent that such data are maintained by the County in computer-readable format?
Category: Electronic data, Trade secret
Keywords: Electronic data, Trade secret, Copyright, Organization of data, in general, Electronic data, Regardless of physical form, Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information), Proprietary information (See also: Intellectual property), Trade secrets (13.37)
Commissioner: Elaine S. Hansen
This is an opinion of the Commissioner of Administration issued pursuant to section 13.072 of Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 13 - the Minnesota Government Data ...
Description: Is the position of the Department of Natural Resources that it can limit Mr. Boe's use of public data in compliance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act?
Category: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent
Keywords: Commercial value, Copy costs, Legislative authority and intent, Commercial value, Copyright, Intellectual property (See also: Proprietary information), Intellectual property/copyright
Commissioner: Debra Rae Anderson
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