---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 80a–44"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "80a–44"
heading: "Disclosure of information filed with Commission; copies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/80a-44"
units:
  - "Chapter 2D — Investment Companies and Advisers"
  - "Subchapter I — Investment Companies"
---

# §80a–44. Disclosure of information filed with Commission; copies

- (a) The information contained in any registration statement, application, report, or other document filed with the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) pursuant to any provision of this subchapter or of any rule or regulation thereunder (as distinguished from any information or document transmitted to the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7)) shall be made available to the public, unless and except insofar as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7), by rules and regulations upon its own motion, or by order upon application, finds that public disclosure is neither necessary nor appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors. Except as provided in [section 78x(c) of this title](/usc/15/78x.md?p=c), it shall be unlawful for any member, officer, or employee of the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) to use for personal benefit, or to disclose to any [person](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28) other than an official or employee of the United States or of a [State](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-39), for official use, or for any such official or employee to use for personal benefit, any information contained in any document so filed or transmitted, if such information is not available to the public.
- (b) Photostatic or other copies of information contained in documents filed with the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) under this subchapter and made available to the public shall be furnished any [person](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-28) at such reasonable charge and under such reasonable limitations as the [Commission](/usc/15/80a–2.md?p=a-7) shall prescribe.

## Source credit

(Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, title I, § 45, 54 Stat. 845; Pub. L. 101–550, title II, § 202(b)(1), Nov. 15, 1990, 104 Stat. 2715.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–550 substituted “Except as provided in section 78x(c) of this title, it shall be unlawful” for “It shall be unlawful”.

### Executive Documents

### Transfer of Functions

For transfer of functions of Securities and Exchange Commission, with certain exceptions, to Chairman of such Commission, see Reorg. Plan No. 10 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3175, 64 Stat. 1265, set out under section 78d of this title.