ICYMI: SDOs, Copyright, and the Threat of Surreptitious Compulsory Licensing
ICYMI: SDOs, Copyright, and the Threat of Surreptitious Compulsory Licensing
“The real promise and danger raised by the PRO Codes Act is not that it entrenches copyright, but that it hollows it out—transforming a property right into a conditional license revocable at the government’s whim.” – Kristian Stout, International Center for Law and Economics
Over the past year, ASME has been active on Capitol Hill defending the standards industry from the Pro Codes Act – legislation that threatens the existence of Standards Organizations (SDOs) and the work we all do on behalf of the American people.
A recently published article from the International Center for Law and Economics (ICLE) further elaborates on the dangers HR 4072 – the Pro Codes Act – poses to SDO’s and copyright protections.
The unintended consequences of this legislation on the mechanical engineering industry are dire, and the rewriting of copyright law is of great concern. As the ICLE states, “Properly understood, the PRO Codes Act is not a reinforcement of copyright but a distortion that would weaken it for the very organizations that depend on it most.”
For more information on the threats posed by this bill and how you can play a role in determining its fate in Congress, visit the coalition website at www.StopProCodesAct.com.
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