Ask AI
Public Law102th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement
S. 893Became Law

A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to impose criminal sanctions for violation of software copyright.

This bill became law

Filed
Comm.
Floor
Both
Law

What it doesSummary passed house amended (Oct 3, 1992)

Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the penalties for infringing a copyright willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain. Prescribes: (1) five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both for the unlawful reproduction or distribution of at least ten copies or phonorecords of a copyrighted work with a retail value of more than $2,500; (2) ten years' imprisonment, a fine, or both for a second or subsequent offense; and (3) one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both in any other case.

What just happenedOct 28, 1992

Became Public Law No: 102-561.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT](R-UT)Sponsor
2 cosponsors1 D1 R
Read on Congress.gov
2cosponsors2committees39actions1amendments4subjects
  1. Oct 28, 1992PresidentE40000

    Became Public Law No: 102-561.

  2. Oct 28, 1992BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 102-561.

  3. Oct 28, 1992PresidentE30000

    Signed by President.

  4. Oct 28, 1992BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Oct 20, 1992FloorE20000

    Presented to President.

  6. Oct 20, 1992President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Oct 8, 1992ResolvingDifferences

    Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.

  8. Oct 8, 1992NotUsed20500

    Resolving differences -- Senate actions: Senate agreed to the House amendments by Voice Vote.

  9. Oct 5, 1992Floor

    Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendments to Senate bill.

  10. Oct 3, 1992FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  11. Oct 3, 1992FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  12. Oct 3, 1992FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  13. Oct 3, 1992Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.

  14. Oct 3, 1992FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

  15. Oct 3, 1992FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules.

  16. Oct 3, 1992FloorH30300

    Mr. Hughes moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  17. Oct 3, 1992CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 569.

  18. Oct 3, 1992CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-997.

    Judiciary Committee
  19. Oct 3, 1992Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 102-997.

    Judiciary Committee
  20. Sep 30, 1992CommitteeH15000-B

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Judiciary Committee
  21. Sep 30, 1992CommitteeH19000

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended).

    Judiciary Committee
  22. Sep 10, 1992CommitteeH22000

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  23. Sep 10, 1992CommitteeH23000

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended).

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  24. Aug 12, 1992CommitteeH21000

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  25. Jun 11, 1992CommitteeH11000

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.

    Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet Subcommittee
  26. Jun 9, 1992Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  27. Jun 9, 1992IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  28. Jun 9, 1992FloorH14000

    Received in the House.

  29. Jun 4, 1992Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  30. Jun 4, 1992Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  31. Jun 4, 1992Floor

    Measure laid before Senate.

  32. Apr 7, 1992Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 437.

  33. Apr 7, 1992Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 102-268.

    Judiciary Committee
  34. Apr 7, 1992Committee14000

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Biden without amendment. With written report No. 102-268.

    Judiciary Committee
  35. Aug 1, 1991Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Judiciary Committee
  36. Jul 25, 1991Committee

    Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks. Approved for full committee consideration without amendment favorably.

    Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee
  37. May 6, 1991Committee

    Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.

    Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks Subcommittee
  38. Apr 23, 1991IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  39. Apr 23, 1991IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed House amendedOct 3, 199236

Amends the Federal criminal code to revise the penalties for infringing a copyright willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private financial gain. Prescribes: (1) five years' imprisonment, a fine, or both for the unlawful reproduction or distribution of at least ten copies or phonorecords of a copyrighted work with a retail value of more than $2,500; (2) ten years' imprisonment, a fine, or both for a second or subsequent offense; and (3) one year's imprisonment, a fine, or both in any other case.

Passed Senate amendedJun 4, 199235

Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal sanctions for copyright violations involving the reproduction or distribution, during any 180-day period, of specified numbers of copies infringing the copyright in one or more computer programs.

Introduced in SenateApr 23, 199100

Amends the Federal criminal code to impose criminal sanctions for copyright violations involving the reproduction or distribution, during any 180-day period, of specified numbers of copies infringing the copyright in one or more computer programs.