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S 1557 101th Congress Senate

A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos under certain conditions.

Introduced: April 5, 1990 See on congress.gov
Commerce CopyrightHealth facilitiesHospices (Terminal care)Hospitals
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Nursing homesVideo tape recording
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This bill died when the 101st Congress ended
It never became law before the 101st Congress (1989–1990) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 31, 1989
Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.
Aug 4, 1989
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Aug 4, 1989
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 31, 1989

Referred to Subcommittee on Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends Federal copyright law to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos in a hospital, hospice, nursing home, or other group home providing health care if the institution: (1) provides long-term health care services to individuals on a regular basis; and (2) serves as a temporary or permanent home for such individuals. Prohibits such institutions from levying a direct charge for the video viewing and from transmitting such video viewing via closed-circuit television or other means.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 3158 Identical bill To amend title 17, United States Code, to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos under certain conditions.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · Apr 5, 1990
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1557: A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos under certain conditions.. 101st Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1557/
MLA
"S. 1557: A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos under certain conditions.." 101st Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1557/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1557, 101st Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1557/.
Markdown link
[S. 1557: A bill to amend title 17, United States Code, to permit the unlicensed viewing of videos under certain conditions.](https://openamerica.io/bill/101-S-1557/)
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