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Titles Actions Overview All Actions Cosponsors Committees Related Bills Subjects Latest Summary All Summaries

Titles (4)

Short Titles

Short Titles - Senate

Short Titles as Passed Senate

Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

Short Titles as Reported to Senate

Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

Short Titles as Introduced

Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008

Official Titles

Official Titles - Senate

Official Title as Introduced

A bill to provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works.


Actions Overview (3)

Date Actions Overview
09/26/2008 Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S9870-9872)
05/15/2008 Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
04/24/2008 Introduced in Senate

All Actions (13)

Date Chamber All Actions
09/27/2008 House Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
09/27/2008 Senate Message on Senate action sent to the House.
09/27/2008-11:21am House Received in the House.
09/26/2008 Senate Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S9870-9872)
09/26/2008 Senate The committee substitute as amended agreed to by Unanimous Consent.
09/26/2008 Senate S.Amdt.5669 Amendment SA 5669 agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
09/26/2008 Senate S.Amdt.5669 Amendment SA 5669 proposed by Senator Whitehouse for Senator Kyl. (consideration: CR S9867-9872; text: CR S9870) To modify provisions relating to diligent efforts, guide searches, recommend practices, imitations on injunctive relief, and for other purposes.
09/26/2008 Senate Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S9867-9872; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S9867-9869)
05/15/2008 Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 738.
05/15/2008 Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
05/15/2008 Senate Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
04/24/2008 Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3406-3407)
04/24/2008 Senate Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3405-3406)

Cosponsors (2)

Cosponsor Date Cosponsored
Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT]* 04/24/2008
Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT] 09/08/2008

Committees (2)

Committees, subcommittees and links to reports associated with this bill are listed here, as well as the nature and date of committee activity and Congressional report number.

Committee / Subcommittee Date Activity Related Documents
Senate Judiciary 04/24/2008 Referred to
05/15/2008 Markup by
05/15/2008 Reported by
House Judiciary 09/27/2008 Referred to

Related Bills (1)

Bill relationships are identified by the House, the Senate, or CRS, and refer only to same-congress measures. Read more About Related Bills.


Latest Summary (3)

There are 3 summaries for S.2913. View summaries

Shown Here:
Passed Senate amended (09/26/2008)

Shawn Bentley Orphan Works Act of 2008 - Limits the remedies in a civil action brought for infringement of copyright in an orphan work, notwithstanding specified provisions and subject to exceptions, if the infringer meets certain requirements, including proving that: (1) the infringer performed and documented a reasonably diligent search in good faith to locate and identify the copyright owner before using the work, but was unable to locate and identify the owner; and (2) the infringing use of the work provided attribution to the owner of the copyright, if known. Requires a search to include methods that are reasonable and appropriate given the circumstances, including in some circumstances: (1) Copyright Office records that are not available through the Internet; and (2) resources for which a charge or subscription is imposed.

Limits monetary compensation to reasonable compensation for the use of the infringed work. Prohibits such compensation if the infringer is a nonprofit educational institution, museum, library, or archive, or a public broadcasting entity and if the infringer proves that: (1) the infringement is performed without any purpose of commercial advantage and is primarily educational, religious, or charitable in nature;and (2) the infringer ceases the infringement expeditiously after receiving notice of the claim for infringement. Allows injunctive relief to prevent or restrain infringement, subject to exception and limitation.

Directs the Register of Copyrights to: (1) undertake a process to certify that databases are available that facilitate searching for pictorial, graphic, and sculptural works protected by copyright; (2) report to the House and Senate judiciary committees on the implementation and effects of certain amendments made by this Act, including any recommendations for legislative changes; and (3) report to those committees on remedies for copyright infringement claims by an individual copyright owner or a related group of copyright owners seeking small amounts of monetary relief.

Directs the Comptroller General to report to such committees on the function of the deposit requirement in the copyright registration system.