Support legislation to ensure Americans can access laws and standards incorporated by reference while preserving appropriate copyright protections for standards-developing organizations.

Once the code is law, it seems only reasonable that Americans should be able to figure out what the law says. On the other hand, SDOs fund their work, which we rely on to keep us safe, through sale of their copyrighted works, and we also have an interest in ensuring these codes always reflect the highest possible standards. ... So, if we want to ensure that SDOs retain their copyright, legislation is likely necessary. The question is, what kind of legislation?

Johnson says legislation is likely needed to balance public access to incorporated codes with preserving SDO copyright protections.

Subcommittee Ranking Member Johnson’s Opening Statement at Hearing Highlighting Need to Balance Copyright Protections with Public Access | Congressman Hank Johnson
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