PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 252.
Congressional Research Service
Version 19 · Reported to House amended, Part II · Mar 11, 2004
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on February 11, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
Database and Collections of Information Misappropriation Act - Makes civilly liable any person who makes available in commerce to others a substantial part of the information contained in a database generated, gathered, or maintained by another person without authorization. Provides exceptions for: (1) independently generated or gathered information; (2) certain reasonable use by a nonprofit science or research institution; (3) hyperlinking one online location to another; and (4) making such information available for the primary purpose of news reporting.
Excludes, subject to exception, from protection under this Act: (1) Federal, State, or local government databases; and (2) computer programs.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Provides civil remedies, including temporary and permanent injunctions, monetary relief for damages, and impoundment. Prohibits temporary and permanent injunctions and impoundment against the U.S. Government. Exempts from liability a provider of an interactive computer service for making available information that is provided by another information content provider. Provides oversight by the Federal Trade Commission, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the Copyright Office, requiring reports to specified congressional committees.
Requires any civil action under this Act to be commenced within two years after its cause arises.
Excludes, subject to exception, from liability under this Act: (1) any accredited nonprofit postsecondary educational institution or nonprofit research laboratory; (2) employees of such institution or laboratory acting within the scope of employment; and (3) students enrolled in such educational institution.
People & committees
Rep. Coble, Howard [R-NC-6] · R–NC
Legislative record
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Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 252.
Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 108-421, Part II.
Reported adversely (Amended) by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 108-421, Part II.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred sequentially to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for a period ending not later than March 12, 2004 for consideration of such provisions of the bill and amendment as fall within the jurisdiction of that committee pursuant to clause 1(f), rule X.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-421, Part I.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 108-421, Part I.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 16 - 7.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 10 - 3.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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