03/17/99 Committee on the Judiciary

U.S. House of Representatives

Committee on the Judiciary

Henry J. Hyde, Chairman

News Advisory

For immediate release

Contact: Sam Stratman/Michelle Morgan

Phone: (202) 225-2492

Thursday Hearing on Database Piracy

Bill Would Protect Against Pirating of Collections of Information

WHAT: Hearing on H.R. 354, "Collections of Information Anti-piracy Act"

WHEN: Thursday, March 18, at 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property

2226 Rayburn Building

Collections of information, or databases, are becoming increasingly crucial to society today, particularly with the explosion of the Internet. Electronic collections provide a wealth of data for business people, consumers, scientists, scholars and others. But currently it is difficult to protect against unfair wholesale copying and commercial use of such lists. H.R. 354 would make it unlawful to misappropriate collections produced by others for the purpose of repackaging and selling them in a manner which harms the market for the original product.

Why Data Lists Are Important ...

Data lists are an essential tool for improving productivity, advancing education and training and creating a more informed citizenry. But developing, compiling, verifying, distributing, and maintaining data lists requires substantial investments of time, personnel and money.
Currently U.S. firms are leading in data list production, but piracy of their lists and a gap in legal protections threaten their opportunities for fair, free market competition.

H.R. 354 Will...

Prohibit unscrupulous competitors from unfairly grabbing data collected by others, repackaging it, and marketing a product that competes with the original collection.
Maintain existing safeguards for collections of information afforded by copyright, contract rights, privacy laws, and other protections.
Encourage the creation of even more collections, while maintaining access for research, educational, and scientific purposes.