H.R. 6215: To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution.

112th Congress · introduced 2012-07-26 · Commerce · Latest: Became Public Law No: 112-190.

federal

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Where it came from: introduced 2012-07-26 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Became Public Law No: 112-190. (final step reached)
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

To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution.

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on September 11, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Amends the Trademark Act of 1946 to specify that ownership of a valid federal registration of a mark is a complete bar to an action with respect to the mark that: (1) is brought by another person under the common law or a statute of a state; and (2) seeks to prevent dilution (by blurring or by tarnishment) or asserts any claim of actual or likely damage or harm to the distinctiveness or reputation of a mark, label, or form of advertisement. (Removes any such federal-registration defense with respect to dilution claims under federal law and specifies that such a defense is only available in response to dilution claims under state law.)

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment), 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

To amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to correct an error in the provisions relating to remedies for dilution.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21] · 0 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

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.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed Senate without amendment)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-112hr6215.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/112/hr>

Record fed-us-cong112-hr6215 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong112 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong112