§ 54-02-01 — Great seal - Permitted uses - Penalty for commercial use

North Dakota § 54-02-01

• Jurisdiction: North Dakota
• Title 54: State Government
• Ch. 54-02: State Emblems, Symbols, and Awards

Text

1. The great seal of the state is that prescribed in section 2 of article XI of the
Constitution of North Dakota. A description in writing of such seal must be deposited
and recorded in the office of the secretary of state and must remain a public record. A
reproduction of the great seal may be placed on any official form, document, or
stationery of any agency, authority, board, body, branch, bureau, commission,
committee, council, department, division, industry, institution, or instrumentality of the
state or of any elected or appointed official of the state. A reproduction of the great
seal may be placed on business calling cards produced for the use of an elected or
appointed state official or state employee regardless of whether the cards are
purchased by the official or employee or by the state. Any use of the great seal on any
other object or thing by any of the foregoing state entities or officials is prohibited
unless approved by the secretary of state; provided, however, that the state historical
society and the parks and recreation department may, with the concurrence of the
secretary of state, reproduce the great seal on any objects they offer for sale as
souvenirs.
2. It is a class B misdemeanor for any person to:
a. Place or cause to be placed the great seal, or any reproduction of the great seal,
on any political badge, button, insignia, pamphlet, folder, display card, sign,
poster, billboard, or on any other public advertisement, or to otherwise use the
great seal for any political purpose, as defined in section 16.1-10-02.
b. Place or cause to be placed on the great seal, or any reproduction thereof, any
advertisement.
c. Expose the great seal, or any reproduction thereof, to public view with any
advertisement attached thereto.
d. Utilize the great seal, or a copy or reproduction thereof, for any commercial
purpose or except as provided in subsection 1, to utilize or place a copy or
reproduction of the great seal on any stationery or business calling card of any
person.
As used in this subsection, "advertisement" means any printed matter, device, picture,
or symbol, no matter how presented to the senses, which informs the public that a
good or service is available; and "commercial purpose" means with intent to produce a
pecuniary gain through sale of a good or service. Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, the secretary of state may grant a written request by a private vendor to
reproduce official state forms and documents, containing a reproduction of the great
seal, for resale to persons intending to submit the forms or documents to any state
entity in the regular course of business. The secretary of state may also grant a written
request by a publisher, educational institution, or author to reproduce the great seal in
any research, reference, or educational publication containing a compilation of the
great seals of other states.