5 ms·
IANAL but it seems pretty clear to me that Coursera is exempted under 136A.653 subd 2 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=136A.653 https://www.revisor.mn.g
by steamer25 14y ago
IANAL but it seems pretty clear to me that Coursera is exempted under 136A.653 subd 2 (https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=136A.653 https://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/?id=136A.653):
Subd. 2.Educational program; nonprofit organizations. Educational programs which are sponsored by a bona fide and nonprofit trade, labor, business, professional or fraternal organization, which programs are conducted solely for that organization's membership or for the members of the particular industries or professions served by that organization, and which are not available to the public on a fee basis, are exempted from the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71.
- tzs 14y agoCoursera is not non-profit.
- deleted 14y ago[deleted]
- natrius 14y agoCoursera isn't a nonprofit, and a plain reading of that statute seems to require nonprofit status.
- steamer25 14y agoI guess it might not be that clear then... Nevertheless, until they actually start charging something I, for one, could be persuaded that they constitute a 'good faith' non-profit. Alternately, I can't imagine it'd be too difficult to spin off a second organization, funded by the for-profit parent that provides the non-profit programs. There are likely additional incentives for doing so.
- FootballMuse 14y agoSubd. 3 seems to be more likely Educational program; business firms. Educational programs which are sponsored by a business firm for the training of its employees or the employees of other business firms with which it has contracted to provide educational services at no cost to the employees are exempted from the provisions of sections 136A.61 to 136A.71.
- despite2 14y agoThat doesn't seem to apply at all. Coursera programs aren't for training their own employees, nor the employees of other businesses.
- FootballMuse 14y agoCourses are certainly sponsored by a business. Are you an employee of another business or sole proprietorship? Did you enter into a contract for educational services from coursera at no cost? Then it sounds like it applies to me....
- saraid216 14y agoI would advise coordinating with Coursera and asking the Minnesota state legislature to devise a new subdivision that exempts things like Coursera.