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S 467 113th Congress Senate Science, Technology, Communications Intellectual property Internet and video services Internet, web applications, social media Telephone and wireless communication

Wireless Device Independence Act of 2013

Introduced: March 5, 2013 Introduced by: Wyden, Ron Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 5, 2013
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 5, 2013
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Wireless Device Independence Act of 2013 - Amends the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) with respect the prohibition on the circumvention of technological measures that control access to a copyright-protected work. Expands the exceptions to such prohibition to allow the user of a computer program (in the form of firmware or software) that enables a wireless telephone handset or other wireless device that can connect to the Internet, and that is originally acquired from the operator of a wireless telecommunications network or retailer, to connect to a different wireless telecommunications network (a practice commonly referred to as "unlocking" the underlying device) if: (1) the user legally owns a copy of the computer program, (2) the use of the program is solely for connecting to such wireless telecommunications network, and (3) the access to such network is authorized by the network operator. (The Librarian of Congress had previously provided an administrative exemption from the DMCA prohibition to permit the unlocking of mobile wireless devices but the exemption was not renewed after a rulemaking the DMCA requires to be conducted every three years.)

What's happening now March 5, 2013

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1