S.B. No. 349




AN ACT
relating to the intellectual property rights of the Department of Information Resources and certain other state agency intellectual property matters. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 2054.052, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows: (e) The department may: (1) acquire, apply for, register, secure, hold, protect, and renew under the laws of the State of Texas, the United States, any state in the United States, or any nation: (A) a patent for the invention, discovery, or improvement of any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, art, or method, including any new use of a known process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, art, or method; (B) a copyright for an original work of authorship fixed in any tangible medium of expression, now known or later developed, from which it can be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated, either directly or with the aid of a machine or device; (C) a trademark, service mark, collective mark, or certification mark for a word, name, symbol, device, or slogan that the department uses to identify and distinguish its goods and services from other goods and services; or (D) other evidence of protection or exclusivity issued for intellectual property; (2) contract with a person or entity for the reproduction, distribution, public performance, display, advertising, marketing, lease, licensing, sale, use, or other distribution of the department's intellectual property; (3) obtain under a contract described in Subdivision (2) a royalty, license right, or other appropriate means of securing reasonable compensation for the exercise of rights with respect to the department's intellectual property; and (4) waive, increase, or reduce the amount of compensation secured by contract under Subdivision (3) if the department determines that the waiver, increase, or reduction will: (A) further a goal or mission of the department; and (B) result in a net benefit to the state. (f) Except as provided by Section 2054.115(c), money paid to the department under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund. SECTION 2. Section 2054.124, Government Code, is repealed. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 349 passed the Senate on March 20, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 349 passed the House on May 23, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: ______________________________ Date ______________________________ Governor