R Street applauds introduction of YODA
WASHINGTON (Feb. 11, 2015) – The R Street Institute is encouraged by today’s introduction of the You Own Devices Act, or “YODA,” sponsored by Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas.
The bill amends Title 17 of the U.S. Code to ensure consumers can re-sell their electronic devices and other consumer items that include licensed essential software, without running afoul of copyright law. Farenthold was joined this afternoon by original co-sponsor Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo, at an R Street policy luncheon, where they unveiled the legislation.
“Rep. Farenthold understands we expect the devices we buy to belong to us, for us to re-sell or give away as we please,” said Mike Godwin, R Street’s director of innovation policy. “This bill says in a very few words what we all believe about what we buy: we own it and we can re-sell it as we see fit. When we do that, the buyer should be free and clear that he or she owns the device and can operate it freely.”
The bill echoes legislation Farenthold introduced last year, which garnered broad support from industry groups.
“This bill calls for a change that confirms what we already expect, which is that we can re-sell a device that we paid for,” said Godwin.
