15 U.S.C. § 290 — Congressional declaration of policy

Page 706 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 290 1 So in original. Sec. 290c. Standards, criteria, and procedures for prepa- ration and publication of standard reference data; publication in Federal Register. 290d. Sale of standard reference data; cost recov- ery; proceeds subject to National Institute of Standards and Technology. 290e. United States copyright and renewal rights. 290f. Authorization of appropriations. § 290. Congressional declaration of policy The Congress hereby finds and declares that reliable standardized scientific and technical reference data are of vital importance to the progress of the Nation’s science and technology. It is therefore the policy of the Congress to make critically evaluated reference data readily available to scientists, engineers, and the gen- eral public. It is the purpose of this chapter to strengthen and enhance this policy. (Pub. L. 90–396, § 1, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 339.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 90–396, § 8, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Standard Reference Data Act’.’’ § 290a. Definitions For the purposes of this chapter: (1) Standard reference data The term ‘‘standard reference data’’ means data that is— (A) either— (i) quantitative information related to a measurable physical, or chemical, or bio- logical property of a substance or system of substances of known composition and structure; (ii) measurable characteristics of a phys- ical artifact or artifacts; (iii) engineering properties or perform- ance characteristics of a system; or (iv) 1 or more digital data objects that serve— (I) to calibrate or characterize the per- formance of a detection or measurement system; or (II) to interpolate or extrapolate, or both, data described in subparagraph (A) through (C); 1 and (B) that is critically evaluated as to its re- liability under section 290b of this title. (2) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Commerce. (Pub. L. 90–396, § 2, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340; Pub. L. 114–329, title I, § 108, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2987.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2017—Pub. L. 114–329 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: ‘‘For the purposes of this chapter— ‘‘(a) The term ‘standard reference data’ means quantitative information, related to a measurable physical or chemical property of a substance or sys- tem of substances of known composition and struc- ture, which is critically evaluated as to its reliability under section 290b of this title. ‘‘(b) The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of Commerce.’’ § 290b. Collection, compilation, critical evalua- tion, publication and dissemination of stand- ard reference data The Secretary is authorized and directed to provide or arrange for the collection, compila- tion, critical evaluation, publication, and dis- semination of standard reference data. In car- rying out this program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, utilize the ref- erence data services and facilities of other agen- cies and instrumentalities of the Federal Gov- ernment and of State and local governments, persons, firms, institutions, and associations, with their consent and in such a manner as to avoid duplication of those services and facili- ties. All agencies and instrumentalities of the Federal Government are encouraged to exercise their duties and functions in such manner as will assist in carrying out the purpose of this chapter. This section shall be deemed com- plementary to existing authority, and nothing herein is intended to repeal, supersede, or dimin- ish existing authority or responsibility of any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Gov- ernment. (Pub. L. 90–396, § 3, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340.) § 290c. Standards, criteria, and procedures for preparation and publication of standard ref- erence data; publication in Federal Register To provide for more effective integration and coordination of standard reference data activi- ties, the Secretary, in consultation with other interested Federal agencies, shall prescribe and publish in the Federal Register such standards, criteria, and procedures for the preparation and publication of standard reference data as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter. (Pub. L. 90–396, § 4, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340.) § 290d. Sale of standard reference data; cost re- covery; proceeds subject to National Insti- tute of Standards and Technology Standard reference data conforming to stand- ards established by the Secretary may be made available and sold by the Secretary or by a per- son or agency designated by him. To the extent practicable and appropriate, the prices estab- lished for such data may reflect the cost of col- lection, compilation, evaluation, publication, and dissemination of the data, including admin- istrative expenses; and the amounts received shall be subject to the Act of March 3, 1901, as amended [15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.]. (Pub. L. 90–396, § 5, July 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 340.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Act of March 3, 1901, as amended, referred to in text, means act Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 872, 31 Stat. 1449, which is