Pro Codes Act
- Last Action
- 7/22/2024
Actions
- 2024-07-22On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
- 2024-07-22Failed of passage/not agreed to in House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Failed by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 248 - 127 (Roll no. 357).
- 2024-07-22Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H4708)
- 2024-07-22At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
- 2024-07-22DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1631.
- 2024-07-22Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4658-4665; text: CR H4658-4660)
- 2024-07-22Mr. Issa moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2024-07-22Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 501.
- 2024-07-22Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.
- 2024-07-22Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 118-601.
- 2024-04-17Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 4.
- 2024-04-17Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2024-04-16Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2023-07-19Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2023-07-19the motion to favorably report was withdrawn by unanimous consent
Showing 15 of 18 actions. Full history on Congress.gov.
CRS Summary
As of 2024-07-22 (07)
Protecting and Enhancing Public Access to Codes Act or the Pro Codes Act
This bill addresses copyright protections for privately-developed technical standards that are incorporated into a law or regulation (e.g., a state law that requires buildings to comply with the electrical standards developed by a private standards development organization).
Currently, there is not a consensus as to whether a technical standard that has been incorporated by reference into a law retains copyright protection. (A technical standard created by a private organization is typically eligible for copyright protection, but some courts have ruled that standards incorporated into law lose their copyright protections for various reasons. For example, some courts have held that incorporated standards effectively became law and therefore entered the public domain.)
Under this bill, a technical standard shall retain its copyright protection even if it has been incorporated by reference into a law or regulation, if the applicable standards development organization makes the standard available on a free publicly accessible online source and in a format that facilitates the location of specific content.
If a party asserts that an incorporated technical standard has lost its copyright protection because it has not been made available for free online, the party making that assertion shall bear the burden of proof.
The bill also includes reporting requirements for the Copyright Office and the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The GAO must conduct several studies and report on the findings, including the potential impacts of the bill on consumers and historically disadvantaged communities.
Cosponsors (19)
- Deborah Ross (D-NC)
- Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
- Dina Titus (D-NV)
- Troy Nehls (R-TX)
- Nathaniel Moran (R-TX)
- Ted Lieu (D-CA)
- Joe Neguse (D-CO)
- Ben Cline (R-VA)
- Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI)
- Kevin Kiley (R-CA)
- Barry Moore (R-AL)
- SHEILA JACKSON LEE (D-TX)
- Yadira Caraveo (D-CO)
- Rudy Yakym (R-IN)
- Nick LaLota (R-NY)
- Donald Norcross (D-NJ)
- Dan Bishop (R-NC)
- Cliff Bentz (R-OR)
- Lance Gooden (R-TX)
Subjects
- Digital media
- Intellectual property
- User charges and fees
- Wages and earnings
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.