PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 25, 2010
Amends federal patent law to revise the authorization of civil suits to collect one-half of the $500 penalty for false marking.
Limits the right to file a civil action in a U.S. district court to persons who have suffered a competitive injury as a result of a violation of the prohibition against false marking. (Thus repeals the right of any person to sue for the penalty.) Allows a person who has suffered a competitive injury to file a civil action to recover damages adequate to compensate for the injury. (Current law allows any person to collect up to one-half of $500 for every such offense.)
People & committees
Rep. Issa, Darrell E. [R-CA-49] · R–CA
Legislative record
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Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.4954 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.
Examine H.R.4954 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
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