I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 29
To protect users of the Internet from unknowing transmission of their person-
ally identifiable information through spyware programs, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 4, 2005
Mrs. BONO (for herself, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. BUYER, Mr. 
GILLMOR, Mr. HALL, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. WALDEN of Oregon, Mr. 
FERGUSON, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. STEARNS, Mr. BILIRAKIS, 
Mr. TERRY, and Mr. OTTER) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To protect users of the Internet from unknowing trans-
mission of their personally identifiable information 
through spyware programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securely Protect Your-
self Against Cyber Trespass Act’’ or the ‘‘SPY ACT’’.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES 
RELATING TO SPYWARE. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—It is unlawful for any person, 
who is not the owner or authorized user of a protected 
computer, to engage in deceptive acts or practices that in-
volve any of the following conduct with respect to the pro-
tected computer: 
(1) Taking control of the computer by—
(A) utilizing such computer to send unso-
licited information or material from the pro-
tected computer to others; 
(B) diverting the Internet browser of the 
computer, or similar program of the computer 
used to access and navigate the Internet—
(i) without authorization of the owner 
or authorized user of the computer; and 
(ii) away from the site the user in-
tended to view, to one or more other Web 
pages, such that the user is prevented from 
viewing the content at the intended Web 
page, unless such diverting is otherwise au-
thorized; 
(C) accessing or using the modem, or 
Internet connection or service, for the computer 
and thereby causing damage to the computer or
causing the owner or authorized user to incur 
unauthorized financial charges; 
(D) using the computer as part of an ac-
tivity performed by a group of computers that 
causes damage to another computer; or 
(E) delivering advertisements that a user 
of the computer cannot close without turning 
off the computer or closing all sessions of the 
Internet browser for the computer. 
(2) Modifying settings related to use of the 
computer or to the computer’s access to or use of 
the Internet by altering—
(A) the Web page that appears when the 
owner or authorized user launches an Internet 
browser or similar program used to access and 
navigate the Internet; 
(B) the default provider used to access or 
search the Internet, or other existing Internet 
connections settings; 
(C) a list of bookmarks used by the com-
puter to access Web pages; or 
(D) security or other settings of the com-
puter that protect information about the owner 
or authorized user for the purposes of causing
damage or harm to the computer or owner or 
user. 
(3) Collecting personally identifiable informa-
tion through the use of a keystroke logging function. 
(4) Inducing the owner or authorized user to 
install a computer software component onto the 
computer, or preventing reasonable efforts to block 
the installation or execution of, or to disable, a com-
puter software component by—
(A) presenting the owner or authorized 
user with an option to decline installation of a 
software component such that, when the option 
is selected by the owner or authorized user, the 
installation nevertheless proceeds; or 
(B) causing a computer software compo-
nent that the owner or authorized user has 
properly removed or disabled to automatically 
reinstall or reactivate on the computer. 
(5) Misrepresenting that installing a separate 
software component or providing log-in and pass-
word information is necessary for security or privacy 
reasons, or that installing a separate software com-
ponent is necessary to open, view, or play a par-
ticular type of content.
(6) Inducing the owner or authorized user to 
install or execute computer software by misrepre-
senting the identity or authority of the person or en-
tity providing the computer software to the owner or 
user. 
(7) Inducing the owner or authorized user to 
provide personally identifiable, password, or account 
information to another person—
(A) by misrepresenting the identity of the 
person seeking the information; or 
(B) without the authority of the intended 
recipient of the information. 
(8) Removing, disabling, or rendering inoper-
ative a security, anti-spyware, or anti-virus tech-
nology installed on the computer. 
(9) Installing or executing on the computer one 
or more additional computer software components 
with the intent of causing a person to use such com-
ponents in a way that violates any other provision of 
this section. 
(b) GUIDANCE.—The Commission shall issue guid-
ance regarding compliance with and violations of this sec-
tion. This subsection shall take effect upon the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as provided in sub-
section (b), this section shall take effect upon the expira-
tion of the 6-month period that begins on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION OF COLLECTION OF CERTAIN INFOR-
MATION WITHOUT NOTICE AND CONSENT. 
(a) OPT-IN REQUIREMENT.—Except as provided in 
subsection (e), it is unlawful for any person—
(1) to transmit to a protected computer, which 
is not owned by such person and for which such per-
son is not an authorized user, any information col-
lection program, unless—
(A) such information collection program 
provides notice in accordance with subsection 
(c) before execution of any of the information 
collection functions of the program; and 
(B) such information collection program 
includes the functions required under sub-
section (d); or 
(2) to execute any information collection pro-
gram installed on such a protected computer un-
less—
(A) before execution of any of the informa-
tion collection functions of the program, the 
owner or an authorized user of the protected
computer has consented to such execution pur-
suant to notice in accordance with subsection 
(c); and 
(B) such information collection program 
includes the functions required under sub-
section (d). 
(b) INFORMATION COLLECTION PROGRAM.—For pur-
poses of this section, the term ‘‘information collection pro-
gram’’ means computer software that—
(1)(A) collects personally identifiable informa-
tion; and 
(B)(i) sends such information to a person other 
than the owner or authorized user of the computer, 
or 
(ii) uses such information to deliver advertising 
to, or display advertising, on the computer; or 
(2)(A) collects information regarding the Web 
pages accessed using the computer; and 
(B) uses such information to deliver advertising 
to, or display advertising on, the computer. 
(c) NOTICE AND CONSENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notice in accordance with 
this subsection with respect to an information collec-
tion program is clear and conspicuous notice in plain
language, set forth as the Commission shall provide, 
that meets all of the following requirements: 
(A) The notice clearly distinguishes such 
notice from any other information visually pre-
sented contemporaneously on the protected 
computer. 
(B) The notice contains one of the fol-
lowing statements, as applicable, or a substan-
tially similar statement: 
(i) With respect to an information col-
lection program described in subsection 
(b)(1): ‘‘This program will collect and 
transmit information about you. Do you 
accept?’’. 
(ii) With respect to an information 
collection program described in subsection 
(b)(2): ‘‘This program will collect informa-
tion about Web pages you access and will 
use that information to display advertising 
on your computer. Do you accept?’’. 
(iii) With respect to an information 
collection program that performs the ac-
tions described in both paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of subsection (b): ‘‘This program will 
collect and transmit information about you
and your computer use and will collect in-
formation about Web pages you access and 
use that information to display advertising 
on your computer. Do you accept?’’. 
(C) The notice provides for the user—
(i) to grant or deny consent referred 
to in subsection (a) by selecting an option 
to grant or deny such consent; and 
(ii) to abandon or cancel the trans-
mission or execution referred to in sub-
section (a) without granting or denying 
such consent. 
(D) The notice provides an option for the 
user to select to display on the computer, before 
granting or denying consent using the option 
required under subparagraph (C), a clear de-
scription of—
(i) the types of information to be col-
lected and sent (if any) by the information 
collection program; 
(ii) the purpose for which such infor-
mation is to be collected and sent; and 
(iii) in the case of an information col-
lection program that first executes any of 
the information collection functions of the
program together with the first execution 
of other computer software, the identity of 
any such software that is an information 
collection program. 
(E) The notice provides for concurrent dis-
play of the information required under subpara-
graphs (B) and (C) and the option required 
under subparagraph (D) until the user—
(i) grants or denies consent using the 
option required under subparagraph (C)(i); 
(ii) abandons or cancels the trans-
mission or execution pursuant to subpara-
graph (C)(ii); or 
(ii) selects the option required under 
subparagraph (D). 
(2) SINGLE
NOTICE.—The Commission shall 
provide that, in the case in which multiple informa-
tion collection programs are provided to the pro-
tected computer together, or as part of a suite of 
functionally-related software, the notice require-
ments of paragraphs (1)(A) and (2)(A) of subsection 
(a) may be met by providing, before execution of any 
of the information collection functions of the pro-
grams, clear and conspicuous notice in plain lan-
guage in accordance with paragraph (1) of this sub-
section by means of a single notice that applies to 
all such information collection programs, except that 
such notice shall provide the option under subpara-
graph (D) of paragraph (1) of this subsection with 
respect to each such information collection program. 
(3) CHANGE IN INFORMATION COLLECTION.—If 
an owner or authorized user has granted consent to 
execution of an information collection program pur-
suant to a notice in accordance with this subsection: 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—No subsequent such 
notice is required, except as provided in sub-
paragraph (B). 
(B) SUBSEQUENT
NOTICE.—The person 
who transmitted the program shall provide an-
other notice in accordance with this subsection 
and obtain consent before such program may be 
used to collect or send information of a type or 
for a purpose that is materially different from, 
and outside the scope of, the type or purpose 
set forth in the initial or any previous notice. 
(4) REGULATIONS.—The Commission shall 
issue regulations to carry out this subsection. 
(d) REQUIRED FUNCTIONS.—The functions required 
under this subsection to be included in an information col-
lection program that executes any information collection
functions with respect to a protected computer are as fol-
lows: 
(1) DISABLING
FUNCTION.—With respect to 
any information collection program, a function of 
the program that allows a user of the program to re-
move the program or disable operation of the pro-
gram with respect to such protected computer by a 
function that—
(A) is easily identifiable to a user of the 
computer; and 
(B) can be performed without undue effort 
or knowledge by the user of the protected com-
puter. 
(2) IDENTITY FUNCTION.—With respect only to 
an information collection program that uses informa-
tion collected in the manner described in paragraph 
(1)(B)(ii) or (2)(B) of subsection (b), a function of 
the program that provides that each display of an 
advertisement directed or displayed using such infor-
mation when the owner or authorized user is access-
ing a Web page or online location other than of the 
provider of the software is accompanied by the name 
of the information collection program, a logogram or 
trademark used for the exclusive purpose of identi-
fying the program, or a statement or other informa-
tion sufficient to clearly identify the program. 
(3) RULEMAKING.—The Commission may issue 
regulations to carry out this subsection. 
(e) LIMITATION
ON LIABILITY.—A telecommuni-
cations carrier, a provider of information service or inter-
active computer service, a cable operator, or a provider 
of transmission capability shall not be liable under this 
section to the extent that the carrier, operator, or pro-
vider—
(1) transmits, routes, hosts, stores, or provides 
connections for an information collection program 
through a system or network controlled or operated 
by or for the carrier, operator, or provider; or 
(2) provides an information location tool, such 
as a directory, index, reference, pointer, or hypertext 
link, through which the owner or user of a protected 
computer locates an information collection program. 
SEC. 4. ENFORCEMENT. 
(a) UNFAIR OR DECEPTIVE ACT OR PRACTICE.—
This Act shall be enforced by the Commission under the 
Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.). 
A violation of any provision of this Act or of a regulation 
issued under this Act committed with actual knowledge 
or knowledge fairly implied on the basis of objective cir-
cumstances that such act is unfair or deceptive or violates 
this Act shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or 
practice violating a rule promulgated under section 18 of 
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a). 
(b) PENALTY FOR PATTERN OR PRACTICE VIOLA-
TIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding subsection 
(a) and the Federal Trade Commission Act, in the 
case of a person who engages in a pattern or prac-
tice that violates section 2 or 3, the Commission 
may, in its discretion, seek a civil penalty for such 
pattern or practice of violations in an amount, as de-
termined by the Commission, of not more than—
(A) $3,000,000 for each violation of sec-
tion 2; and 
(B) $1,000,000 for each violation of sec-
tion 3. 
(2) TREATMENT OF SINGLE ACTION OR CON-
DUCT.—In applying paragraph (1)—
(A) any single action or conduct that vio-
lates section 2 or 3 with respect to multiple 
protected computers shall be treated as a single 
violation; and 
(B) any single action or conduct that vio-
lates more than one paragraph of section 2(a)
shall be considered multiple violations, based on 
the number of such paragraphs violated. 
(c) EXCLUSIVENESS OF REMEDIES.—The remedies 
in this section (including remedies available to the Com-
mission under the Federal Trade Commission Act) are the 
exclusive remedies for violations of this Act. 
(d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act, but only to the 
extent that this section applies to violations of section 
2(a). 
SEC. 5. LIMITATIONS. 
(a) LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY.—Sections 2 
and 3 of this Act shall not apply to—
(1) any act taken by a law enforcement agent 
in the performance of official duties; or 
(2) the transmission or execution of an infor-
mation collection program in compliance with a law 
enforcement, investigatory, national security, or reg-
ulatory agency or department of the United States 
or any State in response to a request or demand 
made under authority granted to that agency or de-
partment, including a warrant issued under the Fed-
eral Rules of Criminal Procedure, an equivalent 
State warrant, a court order, or other lawful proc-
ess.
(b) EXCEPTION RELATING TO SECURITY.—Nothing 
in this Act shall apply to—
(1) any monitoring of, or interaction with, a 
subscriber’s Internet or other network connection or 
service, or a protected computer, by a telecommuni-
cations carrier, cable operator, computer hardware 
or software provider, or provider of information serv-
ice or interactive computer service, to the extent that 
such monitoring or interaction is for network or 
computer security purposes, diagnostics, technical 
support, or repair, or for the detection or prevention 
of fraudulent activities; or 
(2) a discrete interaction with a protected com-
puter by a provider of computer software solely to 
determine whether the user of the computer is au-
thorized to use such software, that occurs upon—
(A) initialization of the software; or 
(B) an affirmative request by the owner or 
authorized user for an update of, addition to, or 
technical service for, the software. 
(c) GOOD SAMARITAN PROTECTION.—No provider of 
computer software or of interactive computer service may 
be held liable under this Act on account of any action vol-
untarily taken, or service provided, in good faith to remove 
or disable a program used to violate section 2 or 3 that
is installed on a computer of a customer of such provider, 
if such provider notifies the customer and obtains the con-
sent of the customer before undertaking such action or 
providing such service. 
(d) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY.—A manufacturer or 
retailer of computer equipment shall not be liable under 
this Act to the extent that the manufacturer or retailer 
is providing third party branded software that is installed 
on the equipment the manufacturer or retailer is manufac-
turing or selling. 
SEC. 6. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS. 
(a) PREEMPTION OF STATE LAW.—
(1) PREEMPTION
OF
SPYWARE
LAWS.—This 
Act supersedes any provision of a statute, regula-
tion, or rule of a State or political subdivision of a 
State that expressly regulates—
(A) deceptive conduct with respect to com-
puters similar to that described in section 2(a); 
(B) the transmission or execution of a 
computer program similar to that described in 
section 3; or 
(C) the use of computer software that dis-
plays advertising content based on the Web 
pages accessed using a computer. 
(2) ADDITIONAL PREEMPTION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—No person other than 
the Attorney General of a State may bring a 
civil action under the law of any State if such 
action is premised in whole or in part upon the 
defendant violating any provision of this Act. 
(B) PROTECTION OF CONSUMER PROTEC-
TION LAWS.—This paragraph shall not be con-
strued to limit the enforcement of any State 
consumer protection law by an Attorney Gen-
eral of a State. 
(3) PROTECTION OF CERTAIN STATE LAWS.—
This Act shall not be construed to preempt the ap-
plicability of—
(A) State trespass, contract, or tort law; or 
(B) other State laws to the extent that 
those laws relate to acts of fraud. 
(b) PRESERVATION OF FTC AUTHORITY.—Nothing 
in this Act may be construed in any way to limit or affect 
the Commission’s authority under any other provision of 
law, including the authority to issue advisory opinions 
(under Part 1 of Volume 16 of the Code of Federal Regu-
lations), policy statements, or guidance regarding this Act. 
SEC. 7. ANNUAL FTC REPORT. 
For the 12-month period that begins upon the effec-
tive date under section 11(a) and for each 12-month pe-
riod thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report to 
the Congress that—
(1) specifies the number and types of actions 
taken during such period to enforce sections 2(a) 
and 3, the disposition of each such action, any pen-
alties levied in connection with such actions, and any 
penalties collected in connection with such actions; 
and 
(2) describes the administrative structure and 
personnel and other resources committed by the 
Commission for enforcement of this Act during such 
period. 
Each report under this subsection for a 12-month period 
shall be submitted not later than 90 days after the expira-
tion of such period. 
SEC. 8. FTC REPORT ON COOKIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the expiration of 
the 6-month period that begins on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Commission shall submit a report 
to the Congress regarding the use of tracking cookies in 
the delivery or display of advertising to the owners and 
users of computers. The report shall examine and describe 
the methods by which such tracking cookies and the 
websites that place them on computers function separately 
and together, and the extent to which they are covered
or affected by this Act. The report may include such rec-
ommendations as the Commission considers necessary and 
appropriate, including treatment of tracking cookies under 
this Act or other laws. 
(b) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘tracking cookie’’ means a cookie or similar text or 
data file used alone or in conjunction with one or more 
websites to transmit or convey personally identifiable in-
formation of a computer owner or user, or information re-
garding Web pages accessed by the owner or user, to a 
party other than the intended recipient, for the purpose 
of—
(1) delivering or displaying advertising to the 
owner or user; or 
(2) assisting the intended recipient to deliver or 
display advertising to the owner, user, or others. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 9. REGULATIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall issue the 
regulations required by this Act not later than the expira-
tion of the 6-month period beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. Any regulations issued pursuant 
to this Act shall be issued in accordance with section 553 
of title 5, United States Code.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 
on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. 
For purposes of this Act: 
(1) CABLE OPERATOR.—The term ‘‘cable oper-
ator’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
602 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
522). 
(2) COLLECT.—The term ‘‘collect’’, when used 
with respect to information and for purposes only of 
section 3, does not include obtaining of the informa-
tion by a party who is intended by the owner or au-
thorized user of a protected computer to receive the 
information pursuant to the owner or authorized 
user—
(A) transferring the information to such 
intended recipient using the protected com-
puter; or 
(B) storing the information on the pro-
tected computer in a manner so that it is acces-
sible by such intended recipient. 
(3) COMPUTER; PROTECTED COMPUTER.—The 
terms ‘‘computer’’ and ‘‘protected computer’’ have 
the meanings given such terms in section 1030(e) of 
title 18, United States Code.
(4) COMPUTER SOFTWARE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the term ‘‘computer soft-
ware’’ means a set of statements or instructions 
that can be installed and executed on a com-
puter for the purpose of bringing about a cer-
tain result. 
(B) EXCEPTION FOR COOKIES.—Such term 
does not include—
(i) a cookie or other text or data file 
that is placed on the computer system of 
a user by an Internet service provider, 
interactive computer service, or Internet 
website to return information to such pro-
vider, service, or website; or 
(ii) computer software that is placed 
on the computer system of a user by an 
Internet service provider, interactive com-
puter service, or Internet website solely to 
enable the user subsequently to use such 
provider or service or to access such 
website. 
(5) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Trade Commission.
(6) DAMAGE.—The term ‘‘damage’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 1030(e) of title 
18, United States Code. 
(7) DECEPTIVE
ACTS
OR
PRACTICES.—The 
term ‘‘deceptive acts or practices’’ has the meaning 
applicable to such term for purposes of section 5 of 
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 45). 
(8) DISABLE.—The term ‘‘disable’’ means, with 
respect to an information collection program, to per-
manently prevent such program from executing any 
of the functions described in section 3(b) that such 
program is otherwise capable of executing (including 
by removing, deleting, or disabling the program), un-
less the owner or operator of a protected computer 
takes a subsequent affirmative action to enable the 
execution of such functions. 
(9) INFORMATION COLLECTION FUNCTIONS.—
The term ‘‘information collection functions’’ means, 
with respect to an information collection program, 
the functions of the program described in subsection 
(b) of section 3. 
(10) INFORMATION SERVICE.—The term ‘‘infor-
mation service’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 3 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 
U.S.C. 153).
(11) INTERACTIVE
COMPUTER
SERVICE.—The 
term ‘‘interactive computer service’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 230(f) of the Communica-
tions Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 230(f)). 
(12) INTERNET.—The term ‘‘Internet’’ means 
collectively the myriad of computer and tele-
communications facilities, including equipment and 
operating software, which comprise the inter-
connected world-wide network of networks that em-
ploy the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet 
Protocol, or any predecessor or successor protocols 
to such protocol, to communicate information of all 
kinds by wire or radio. 
(13) PERSONALLY
IDENTIFIABLE
INFORMA-
TION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘personally 
identifiable information’’ means the following 
information, to the extent only that such infor-
mation allows a living individual to be identified 
from that information: 
(i) First and last name of an indi-
vidual. 
(ii) A home or other physical address 
of an individual, including street name, 
name of a city or town, and zip code.
(iii) An electronic mail address. 
(iv) A telephone number. 
(v) A social security number, tax iden-
tification number, passport number, driv-
er’s license number, or any other govern-
ment-issued identification number. 
(vi) A credit card number. 
(vii) Any access code, password, or ac-
count number, other than an access code 
or password transmitted by an owner or 
authorized user of a protected computer to 
the intended recipient to register for, or 
log onto, a Web page or other Internet 
service or a network connection or service 
of a subscriber that is protected by an ac-
cess code or password. 
(viii) Date of birth, birth certificate 
number, or place of birth of an individual, 
except in the case of a date of birth trans-
mitted or collected for the purpose of com-
pliance with the law. 
(B) RULEMAKING.—The Commission may, 
by regulation, add to the types of information 
specified under paragraph (1) that shall be con-
sidered personally identifiable information for
purposes of this Act, except that such informa-
tion may not include any record of aggregate 
data that does not identify particular persons, 
particular computers, particular users of com-
puters, or particular email addresses or other 
locations of computers with respect to the 
Internet. 
(14) SUITE OF FUNCTIONALLY RELATED SOFT-
WARE.—The term ‘suite of functionally related software‘ 
means a group of computer software programs dis-
tributed to an end user by a single provider, which 
programs are necessary to enable features or 
functionalities of an integrated service offered by the 
provider. 
(15) 
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CARRIER.—The 
term ‘‘telecommunications carrier’’ has the meaning 
given such term in section 3 of the Communications 
Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153). 
(16) TRANSMIT.—The term ‘‘transmit’’ means, 
with respect to an information collection program, 
transmission by any means. 
(17) WEB PAGE.—The term ‘‘Web page’’ means 
a location, with respect to the World Wide Web, that 
has a single Uniform Resource Locator or another
single location with respect to the Internet, as the 
Federal Trade Commission may prescribe. 
SEC. 11. APPLICABILITY AND SUNSET. 
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as specifically pro-
vided otherwise in this Act, this Act shall take effect upon 
the expiration of the 12-month period that begins on the 
date of the enactment of this Act. 
(b) APPLICABILITY.—Section 3 shall not apply to an 
information collection program installed on a protected 
computer before the effective date under subsection (a) of 
this section. 
(c) SUNSET.—This Act shall not apply after Decem-
ber 31, 2010.
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