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H.R. 2045: Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015

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H.R. 2045: Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015

114th Congress · introduced 2015-04-28 · Commerce · Latest: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 688.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2015-04-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 688. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  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

Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015 (Sec. 2) This bill directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and authorizes state attorneys general, to enforce against written communications (commonly referred to as demand letters) that represent in bad faith that the recipient bears liability or owes compensation for infringing an asserted patent. The pattern or practice of sending such bad faith demand letters shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The bill sets forth the types of bad faith representations, assertions of legal action, claims of a sender holding an exclusive license, compensation requests, or omissions that are considered to be unfair or deceptive. The bill provides an affirmative defense if the sender can show that statements, representations, or omissions were mistakes made in good faith, which may be demonstrated by a preponderance of evidence that the violation was not intentional and resulted from a bona fide error notwithstanding the maintenance of procedures reasonably adapted to avoid any such error. (Sec. 3) The bill provides the FTC with authority to enforce against violations. (Sec. 4) The bill preempts state or local laws expressly relating to the transmission or contents of communications regarding the assertion of patent rights. But the bill shall not be contrued to limit any other state laws, including those relating to consumer protection, fraud, deception, trespass, contracts, or torts. State attorneys general may bring civil actions in federal court to enjoin violations or obtain civil penalties for violations of this bill. The maximum civil penalty for which a person may be liable for a series of related violations is $5 million.

Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House 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

Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Reported to House without amendment)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Burgess, Michael C. [R-TX-26] · 7 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2045, Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act of 2015 (2015-05-29)

Cosponsors on this site

Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

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)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr2045 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114