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H.R.4240 / 105th Congress

Y2K Liability and Antitrust Reform Act

For Further Action See S.2392.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jul 16, 1998

Y2K Liability and Antitrust Reform Act - Provides that an action resulting from a computer date failure which is brought in Federal or State court shall be deemed to be based solely in contract and shall only allow recovery for consequential business loss and costs of repair or replacement resulting from the failure if the plaintiff has not suffered any personal injury, excluding emotional harm, as a result and the defendant is: (1) a person who is engaged in commerce to design, develop, or manufacture a computer system, program, software, or component, has given specified notice to buyers, has made available at no charge repair or replacement of hardware and software for products sold after December 31, 1994, and has made available to the buyer a repair or replacement for a computer program or software or hardware that was introduced for sale before January 1, 1995; or (2) any other person who has made reasonable efforts to protect its system, program, or software from computer date failure, has conducted reasonable tests to prevent a computer date failure by July 1, 1999, and has notified its customers and the President's Council on the Year 2000 Conversion by August 1, 1999, of efforts to avoid such failure. (Sec. 3) Makes the antitrust laws inapplicable to conduct engaged in between the enactment date of this Act and December 31, 2001, solely for the purpose of establishing responses designed to mitigate the impact of computer date failure in a computer system, with an exception for conduct that results in a boycott.

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Who introduced it

Rep. Dreier, David [R-CA-28] · R–CA

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
9 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. For Further Action See S.2392.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H5849)

  3. Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

  4. Introduced in House

  5. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

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Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.4240 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

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Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

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Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

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