# Public Registers Law

> Swedish law

**Wikidata**: [Q10418053](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q10418053)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/public-registers-law

## Summary
The **Public Registers Law** (Swedish: *Arkivlag*, SFS 1990:782) is a formal written statute enacted by the Swedish Parliament that establishes the legal framework for the management, preservation, and accessibility of public archives in Sweden. Effective from July 1, 1991, this law serves as the primary legislative instrument defining the responsibilities of public authorities regarding their documentary heritage. It is a specific instance of Swedish legislation that operates under the broader category of statutes, which includes acts, executive orders, and by-laws.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Arkivlag (1990:782).
- **Legal Citation:** SFS 1990:782.
- **Country of Origin:** Sweden (Kingdom of Sweden).
- **Jurisdiction:** Applies exclusively to Sweden.
- **Enactment Date:** Published on June 7, 1990.
- **Effective Date:** Entered into force on July 1, 1991.
- **Main Subject:** Archives and the management of public records.
- **Language:** Swedish (official language of the work).
- **Document Type:** Statute (formal written document creating law).
- **Copyright Status:** Public domain, determined by the Swedish Copyright Act (2 chapter 26 §).
- **Hosting Authority:** Maintained by the Swedish Riksdag (Parliament).
- **Riksdag Document ID:** sfs-1990-782.
- **Access URLs:** Available via the Riksdag website in HTML (`https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/_sfs-1990-782`) and Office Open XML Wordprocessing Document format (`http://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/sfs-1990-782`).
- **Wikidata Sitelinks:** 1 (Swedish Wikipedia).
- **Classification:** Instance of "statute"; subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule."
- **Related Entity:** Published in the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of the Public Registers Law?**
The law establishes the legal obligations for Swedish public authorities to create, manage, and preserve their archives. It ensures that public records are maintained in a way that guarantees their availability for future reference, administrative transparency, and historical research.

**When did the Public Registers Law come into effect?**
Although the statute was published on June 7, 1990, its provisions officially became effective on July 1, 1991. This one-year gap allowed public agencies time to prepare their systems and procedures to comply with the new legal requirements.

**Is the text of the Public Registers Law protected by copyright?**
No, the law is in the public domain. Under the Swedish Copyright Act (specifically chapter 2, section 26), official legal documents such as acts of the Riksdag are not subject to copyright protection, ensuring unrestricted public access.

**How can one access the official text of this law?**
The official text is available on the Swedish Riksdag's website in two primary formats: HyperText Markup Language (HTML) for web reading and Office Open XML (Word) for document processing. These digital versions are maintained as part of the Riksdag's official document repository.

**What specific area of governance does this statute regulate?**
The statute specifically regulates the field of archives. It defines the scope of "public registers" and sets the standards for how archival materials must be handled by government bodies and other public institutions within Sweden.

## Why It Matters
The Public Registers Law is a cornerstone of Swedish administrative transparency and historical preservation. By mandating that public authorities maintain their records according to strict legal standards, the law ensures that government actions are documented, accessible, and accountable to the public. This legislation solves the critical problem of record loss or obfuscation, providing a legal guarantee that citizens can access information about their government and that the nation's administrative history is preserved for future generations. Its public domain status further reinforces the principle that the laws governing the public must be freely available to all, supporting the rule of law and open government initiatives.

## Notable For
- **Specific Legal Citation:** Uniquely identified by the Swedish Code of Statutes reference SFS 1990:782.
- **Digital Accessibility:** Officially published in both HTML and Office Open XML formats by the Riksdag, facilitating modern data processing and legal tech integration.
- **Public Domain Status:** Explicitly exempt from copyright under Swedish law, allowing for unrestricted reproduction and distribution.
- **Targeted Scope:** Distinctly focused on "archives" as its main subject, differentiating it from broader administrative or criminal codes.
- **Longevity:** Has been in continuous effect since July 1, 1991, serving as a stable legal framework for over three decades.
- **Riksdag Integration:** Directly linked to the Swedish Parliament's document management system via the unique ID `sfs-1990-782`.

## Body

### Definition and Legal Classification
The Public Registers Law is a **statute**, defined as a formal written document that creates law. In the Swedish legal system, it falls under the category of an "act" passed by the legislature. Taxonomically, it is classified as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." It functions as the concrete manifestation of statutory law, serving as the official record of legal rules enacted by the Swedish government. The law is an instance of the broader concept of "legislation" and is caused by the legal act of the Riksdag. Its primary function is to establish "legal norms" regarding the creation and maintenance of public archives.

### Enactment and Effective Dates
The legislative process for this statute resulted in its publication on **June 7, 1990**. However, the law did not take immediate effect; it was scheduled to become operational on **July 1, 1991**. This delay is common in legal systems to allow administrative bodies time to adapt their workflows to new regulatory requirements. The statute is cited legally as **SFS 1990:782**, where "SFS" stands for *Svensk författningssamling* (Swedish Code of Statutes).

### Scope and Subject Matter
The **main subject** of the Public Registers Law is **archives**. It governs the lifecycle of public records, from their creation by government agencies to their eventual preservation or disposal. The law applies to all public authorities within the jurisdiction of **Sweden**. It mandates that these entities maintain their records in a manner that ensures their integrity, accessibility, and long-term survival. The statute is part of the broader legal framework that defines the responsibilities of the state toward its documentary heritage.

### Copyright and Public Access
A defining characteristic of the Public Registers Law is its **copyright status**. In Sweden, as in many other jurisdictions, official legal documents are not subject to copyright. This determination is explicitly made under the **Swedish Copyright Act, chapter 2, section 26**. Consequently, the text of the law is in the **public domain**. This status ensures that the law is freely owned by the public, allowing anyone to read, copy, distribute, or analyze the text without restriction. This aligns with the "edict of government doctrine," which posits that laws must be accessible to those who must follow them.

### Digital Availability and Technical Identifiers
The Swedish Riksdag maintains the official digital versions of the Public Registers Law. The document is accessible via the Riksdag's official website with the following specific identifiers and formats:
- **Riksdag Document ID:** `sfs-1990-782`.
- **HTML Version:** Available at `https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-lagar/dokument/_sfs-1990-782`.
- **Office Open XML Version:** Available at `http://data.riksdagen.se/dokument/sfs-1990-782`. This format adheres to the ECMA-376 1st Edition standard, facilitating machine readability and integration into legal databases.
- **Language:** The work is written in **Swedish**.
- **Maintenance:** The document is maintained by **Project Riksdagen's documents**, a specific Wikimedia project dedicated to cataloging Swedish legislation.

### Context within Swedish Law and Global Standards
The Public Registers Law is an integral part of the Swedish legal system, which operates as a constitutional monarchy and representative democracy. As a statute, it is equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class used in structured data on the web, allowing for semantic interoperability. While the law itself is specific to Sweden, it reflects global standards for archival management and public access to information. The statute is cataloged in the Swedish Code of Statutes (SFS), a comprehensive collection of all Swedish laws and regulations. Its existence ensures that the administrative history of Sweden is preserved in a legally binding and accessible format, supporting the country's high standards of transparency and democracy.