PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.For Further Action See H.R.2215.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 7, 2001
Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2001 - Revises Federal copyright law to extend the exemption from infringement liability for instructional broadcasting to digital distance learning or distance education. Allows under specified conditions: (1) the performance and display of reasonable and limited portions of any copyrighted work; (2) the reproduction of such work in transient copies or phonorecords created as a part of the automatic technical process of a digital transmission; and (3) distribution of such copies or phonorecords in the course of such transmission, to the extent technologically necessary.Revises the conditions of such transmission to: (1) require the performance or display to be made by or at the direction of an instructor as an integral part of a class session; (2) limit its reception to students officially enrolled in the course for which it is made or officers or employees of governmental bodies as part of their official duties or employment; (3) require transient copies to be retained for no longer than reasonably necessary to complete the transmission; and (4) require the transmitting body or institution to take specified actions to provide copyright protection of such works.Extends the current ephemeral recording exemption, under specified conditions, to copies or phonorecords embodying a performance or display in digital form for use in making transmissions authorized by this Act.
People & committees
Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] · R–UT
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
For Further Action See H.R.2215.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 425.
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-687.
Reported by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 107-687.
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 12 - 0.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Received in the House.
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S5988-5995; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S5598 )
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 66.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-31.
Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Hatch with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-31.
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-221.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2008-2009)
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2006-2008, S2009)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.487 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 S.487 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.
Examine S.487 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.487 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.