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HR 4696 99th Congress House Commerce Arts, Culture, Religion Books Canada Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Copyright Employee rights English language Foreign Trade and Investments Import restrictions Imports International Affairs Labor and Employment Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights Printing Publishers and publishing Trade agreements Treaties

Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act

Introduced: April 29, 1986 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 8 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 26, 1986
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 5, 1986
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 22, 1986
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 5, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Trade.
May 2, 1986
Referred to Subcommittee on Courts, Civil Liberties, and the Administration of Justice.
Apr 29, 1986
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Apr 29, 1986
Introduced in House
Apr 29, 1986
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act - Amends the copyright law to extend indefinitely the manufacturing clause, which prohibits the importation of certain English language books not manufactured in the United States or Canada. Eliminates the Canadian exemption, per se, after 1988. Permits exemptions from such restriction if a foreign country, including Canada, is certified by the United States Trade Representative as providing adequate copyright protection for U.S. nationals and such country freely trades in printed matter with the United States or adheres to a bilateral or multilateral agreement with the United States and supports internationally recognized workers' rights.

What's happening now June 26, 1986

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 5
All 5 Democratic 5
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · May 21, 1986
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · May 6, 1986
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Apr 29, 1986
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Apr 29, 1986
 D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Apr 29, 1986
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4696: Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4696/
MLA
"H.R. 4696: Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4696/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4696, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4696/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4696: Manufacture and Public Distribution of Certain Copyrighted Material Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-4696/)
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