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H.R. 6531: Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008

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H.R. 6531: Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008

110th Congress · introduced 2008-07-17 · Commerce · Latest: Became Public Law No: 110-434.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2008-07-17 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 110-434. (final step reached)
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008 - Amends federal copyright law to specify that the design of a vessel's hull, deck, or combination of a hull and deck, including a plug or mold are protected (currently, only the design of the vessel hull is protected, including a plug or mold). Requires that Department of Defense (DOD) rights in a registered design, including the right to build to such a design, be determined solely by provisions of federal Armed Forces law relating to rights in technical data or by the instrument under which the design was developed for the U.S. government. Redefines "useful article" and "hull." Defines "deck" as the horizontal surface of the vessel that covers the hull, including exterior cabin and cockpit surfaces, and exclusive of masts, sails, yards, rigging, hardware, fixtures, and other attachments.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28] · 3 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong110-hr6531 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong110 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong110