H.R. 6612: Defense Civilian Faculty Copyright Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Defense Civilian Faculty Copyright Act of 2025, proposes a change to U.S. copyright law specifically aimed at works created by civilian faculty members employed at the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences (USUHS). The bill allows the federal government to use literary works produced by these faculty members without having to pay royalties.

Key Provisions

The main elements of the bill include:

• The amendment of Title 17 of the United States Code to include the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in the list of government entities allowed to use literary works without paying royalties.
• The reorganization of subparagraphs in Section 105 of Title 17 to accommodate this new provision.

Impact on Federal Use of Faculty Works

Under the current copyright law, federal entities usually must pay royalties when using copyrighted materials. This bill would eliminate that requirement for works created by USUHS faculty in their capacity as employees of the university. This means that the federal government could use such works freely, which could potentially facilitate the dissemination of knowledge or resources created in a federal educational context.

Conforming Amendments

The bill also makes several conforming amendments to ensure that the new provision integrates smoothly with existing copyright law. These amendments involve updating references in the law to reflect the addition of the USUHS.

Legal Framework

The bill modifies the existing legal framework surrounding copyright in the U.S. by specifying which types of works can be used royalty-free, thereby reducing potential financial obligations for the federal government and possibly increasing the accessibility of works produced by USUHS faculty.

Relevant Companies

None found.