Faegre Baker Daniels Secures Win for National Council on Teacher Quality

Faegre Baker Daniels has secured a summary judgment in favor of the firm's client the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a national nonprofit research entity that advocates for reforms of teacher policies.

NCTQ's research efforts had been hampered after a state colleges and universities system refused to provide copies of course syllabi based on alleged copyright protections. Faegre Baker Daniels filed a complaint on behalf of NCTQ in Minnesota state court alleging violations of the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act and moved for summary judgment. The case involved the interplay of data practices and copyright law, a matter of first impression for Minnesota courts. The court ruled the college system was obligated to produce copies of the syllabi because NCTQ's use was a "fair use" under the Federal Copyright Act. The decision will allow NCTQ to proceed with its important research work and aid NCTQ as it pursues its research efforts in other jurisdictions.

Faegre Baker Daniels lawyers Nancy Hylden and Dan Herber represented NCTQ.