§ 438. Copyright of notes prepared by law reporting bureau. The
copyright of the statement of facts, of the head notes and of all other
notes or references prepared by the law reporting bureau must be taken
by and shall be vested in the secretary of state for the benefit of the
people of the state. The secretary of state is authorized by a writing
filed in his office to grant to any person, firm or corporation, under
such terms and conditions as he and the chief judge of the state of New
York may determine to be for the best interests of the state, the right
to publish the above mentioned copyrighted matter.