Research Guides: Company Research: Laws and Regulations Affecting Business

Suggested Resources for Laws and Regulations Affecting Business

If you need to perform research related to legal issues that affect companies or industries, you should consult the links below. WKU Libraries has access to a variety of sources that provide access to laws, congressional transcripts, patents, and more.

Legal Sources:

HeinOnline

Contains legal journals and resources including the Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Statutes at Large, and the Congressional Record (1873 to present). Full contents.
WestLaw

limit: two simultaneous users.
Includes: Primary Law with KeyCite, Corpus Juris Secundum, Analytical Library, Primary Law, Law Reviews & Journals, RegulationsPlus, and related documents
NexisUni (formerly LexisNexis)
Enter a search string and select either "cases" or "law reviews" to access legal publications.

Industry Overviews (with legal information):

IBISWorld
Provides industry market research that includes legal information. To learn more about how regulation will affect an industry as a whole, search for an industry, and in the report, select "Operating Conditions" then scroll to find "Regulation and Policy."

Download IBISWorld Navigation Tips (pdf).

Governmental Sources:

Congress.gov
Provides US law as well as pending legislation.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
To find which patents a company owns, search by "assignee." This can give an indication of innovations and future directions