N.Y. Jud. Law § 438

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