summary
Introduced
05/08/2013
05/08/2013
In Committee
06/14/2013
06/14/2013
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2015
01/03/2015
Introduced Session
113th Congress
Bill Summary
Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 - 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 allowing the "unlocking" 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.
AI Summary
This bill, the Unlocking Technology Act of 2013, amends federal copyright law to clarify that it is only illegal to bypass technological measures that protect copyrighted works if the purpose is to infringe or help others infringe on those copyrights; it explicitly states that bypassing these measures is not a violation if the intent is for a use that does not infringe copyright, and it allows for the creation and distribution of technologies designed to facilitate such non-infringing uses, as long as the intent is not to facilitate infringement. Furthermore, the bill makes it legal to copy or adapt the software or firmware of a mobile phone that a user has purchased, solely to allow it to connect to a different wireless network, provided the owner or their agent initiates this, legally possesses the device, and has permission from the new network operator to use their service, effectively allowing consumers to "unlock" their phones to switch carriers without needing the original carrier's consent. Finally, the bill directs the President to ensure that international trade agreements are updated to align with these new provisions.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (10)
Zoe Lofgren (D)*,
Peter DeFazio (D),
Donna Edwards (D),
Anna Eshoo (D),
Sam Farr (D),
Rush Holt (D),
Steve Israel (D),
Thomas Massie (R),
Jared Polis (D),
Carol Shea-Porter (D),
Last Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. (on 06/14/2013)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location | Created |
|---|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1892/all-info | 05/09/2013 |
| BillText | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1892ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr1892ih.pdf | 05/11/2013 |
| Bill | http://gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-113hr1892ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr1892ih.pdf.pdf | 05/11/2013 |
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