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HR 1892 113th Congress House

Unlocking Technology Act of 2013

Official title: To amend section 1201 of title 17, United States Code, to require the infringement of a copyright for a violation of such section, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 8, 2013 Introduced by: Lofgren, Zoe Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Commerce Computer security and identity theftComputers and information technologyIntellectual propertyTelephone and wireless communicationTrade agreements and negotiations
This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) 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
Jun 14, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.
May 8, 2013
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
May 8, 2013
Introduced in House
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 Latest action June 14, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 - Amends the prohibition under federal copyright law on the circumvention of a technological measure that controls access to a copyright-protected work to require that such prohibition apply only to circumventions carried out in order to infringe or facilitate infringement of a protected work.

Declares that it shall not be a violation to: (1) circumvent a technological measure if the purpose is to engage in a use that is not an infringement of federal copyright law; or (2) use, manufacture, import, offer to the public, provide, or otherwise traffic in any technology, product, service, device, component, or part primarily designed or produced to facilitate noninfringing uses of protected works by circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access to such work, unless the intent is to infringe or facilitate infringement of a copyright.

Declares that it is not an infringement to copy or adapt the software or firmware of a user-purchased mobile communications device for the sole purpose of enabling the device to connect to a wireless communications network if: (1) the copying or adapting is initiated by, or with the consent of, the owner of that device or the owner's agent; (2) the owner or agent is in legal possession of the device; and (3) the owner has the consent of, or an agreement with, the authorized operator of such wireless communications network to make use of its network. (Thus allowing the "unlocking" of mobile devices without requiring an owner to obtain the consent of the initial carrier network before switching to a new carrier.)

Directs the President to ensure that applicable bilateral and multilateral trade agreements are modified to be consistent with this Act.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1892: Unlocking Technology Act of 2013. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1892/
MLA
"H.R. 1892: Unlocking Technology Act of 2013." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1892/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1892, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1892/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1892: Unlocking Technology Act of 2013](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-1892/)
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