R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-8.1-14: Limitation on liability.

With respect to letters and other intellectual productions (exclusive of material copyrighted or patented) after they come into the custody or possession of the state archivist, neither the division, the state, nor its agents shall be liable for any infringement of literary priority rights or analogous rights arising thereafter out of use of the materials for display, inspection, research, reproduction, or other purposes.