Unlocking Technology Act of 2015

Bill: 114-hr-1587
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-19]
Introduced: 2015-03-24 in the House
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Intellectual property
Telephone and wireless communication
Trade agreements and negotiations

Summary:
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: 

Unlocking Technology Act of 2015

 
Amends the prohibition under federal copyright law on the circumvention of a technological measure that controls access to a copyright-protected work to require that such prohibition apply only to circumventions carried out in order to infringe or facilitate infringement of a protected work.
 
Declares that it shall not be a violation to: (1) circumvent a technological measure if the purpose is to engage in a use that is not an infringement of federal copyright law; or (2) use, manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part primarily designed or produced to facilitate noninfringing uses of protected works by circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to such work, unless the intent is to infringe or facilitate infringement of a copyright.
 
Declares that it is not an infringement to copy or adapt the software or firmware of a user-purchased mobile communications device for the sole purpose of enabling the device to connect to a wireless communications network if: (1) the copying or adapting is initiated by, or with the consent of, the owner of that device or the owner's agent; (2) the owner or agent is in legal possession of the device; and (3) the owner has the consent of, or an agreement with, the authorized operator of such wireless communications network to make use of its network. (Thus, allows the &quot;unlocking&quot; of mobile devices without requiring an owner to obtain the consent of the initial carrier network before switching to a new carrier.)
 
Directs the President to ensure that applicable bilateral and multilateral trade agreements are modified to be consistent with this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2015-04-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-03-24
text: Introduced in House