[110th Congress Public Law 434]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


[DOCID: f:publ434.110]

[[Page 122 STAT. 4972]]

Public Law 110-434
110th Congress

                                 An Act


 
  To amend chapter 13 of title 17, United States Code (relating to the 
vessel hull design protection), to clarify the definitions of a hull and 
             a deck. <<NOTE: Oct. 16, 2008 -  [H.R. 6531]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Vessel 
Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008.>> 
SECTION 1. VESSEL HULL DESIGN PROTECTION.

    (a) Short <<NOTE: 17 USC 101 note.>> Title.--This Act may be cited 
as the ``Vessel Hull Design Protection Amendments of 2008''.

    (b) Designs Protected.--Section 1301(a) of title 17, United States 
Code, is amended by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Vessel features.--The design of a vessel hull, deck, 
        or combination of a hull and deck, including a plug or mold, is 
        subject to protection under this chapter, notwithstanding 
        section 1302(4).''.

    (c) Exceptions.--Section 1301(a) of title 17, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Exceptions.--Department of Defense rights in a 
        registered design under this chapter, including the right to 
        build to such registered design, shall be determined solely by 
        operation of section 2320 of title 10 or by the instrument under 
        which the design was developed for the United States 
        Government.''.

    (d) Definitions.--Section 1301(b) of title 17, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``vessel hull, including a 
        plug or mold,'' and inserting ``vessel hull or deck, including a 
        plug or mold,'';
            (2) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
            ``(4) A `hull' is the exterior frame or body of a vessel, 
        exclusive of the deck, superstructure, masts, sails, yards, 
        rigging, hardware, fixtures, and other attachments.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) A `deck' is the horizontal surface of a vessel that 
        covers the hull, including exterior cabin and cockpit surfaces,

[[Page 122 STAT. 4973]]

        and exclusive of masts, sails, yards, rigging, hardware, 
        fixtures, and other attachments.''.

    Approved October 16, 2008.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 6531:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 154 (2008):
            July 22, considered and passed House.
            Sept. 30, considered and passed Senate.

                                  <all>