The state of California copyrights much of its state-produced (taxpayer-financed) materials. As one example, the California Department of Education copyrights its student learning standards (the guidelines about what kids are supposed to learn and what schools are accountable for teaching) and prohibits any use of them except on their web site (and perhaps by certain publishers who pay them to republish).

In working with a school district who wanted to make these standards available to their teachers as an ebook on mobile devices, we were told in writing by a lawyer for CDE that this was forbidden.

This is a travesty. It's no wonder California is so far behind. Their policymakers don't have a clue.

All government-produced materials should be open licensed.