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H.R. 7201House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

To amend title 35, United States Code, to include the exclusive economic zone as part of the United States for patent infringement, and for other purposes.

Sponsored by Lamar SmithRep. Lamar Smith (R-TX)
Introduced November 29, 2018

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 16, 2026 at 12:22 AM UTC

The bill changes U.S. patent law to treat activities that happen in the United States’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) as if they occurred on U.S. soil for patent‑infringement purposes. By doing so, patent owners can sue for infringement over inventions used in offshore activities such as oil and gas extraction, mineral mining, or marine scientific research within the EEZ. The change mainly affects patent holders and companies operating in the EEZ.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new Section 106 to Title 35, stating that any act on or under the waters of the U.S. EEZ—including seabed activities related to resource exploitation or scientific research—is considered to occur within the United States for the purposes of patent‑infringement law (Section 271).
  • Updates the table of sections in Chapter 10 of Title 35 to include the new Section 106.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

November 29, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

November 29, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

November 29, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued November 29, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7201

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 29, 2018

Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Olson, Mr. Sensenbrenner, Mr. Poe of Texas, Mr. Ratcliffe, Mr. Gene Green of Texas, and Mr. Cuellar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To amend title 35, United States Code, to include the exclusive economic zone as part of the United States for patent infringement, and for other purposes.

1.

Patent infringement in exclusive economic zone of the United States

(a)

Amendment

Chapter 10 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

106.

Inventions in the exclusive economic zone

Any act occurring on or below the waters of the exclusive economic zone of the United States established by Presidential Proclamation 5030 of March 10, 1983 (16 U.S.C. 1453 note), including activity on the seabed of such zone, that is related to the economic exploitation of, or exploration for, natural resources or marine scientific research shall be considered an act occurring within the United States for the purposes of section 271.

.

(b)

Technical and conforming amendment

The table of sections for chapter 10 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

106. Inventions in the exclusive economic zone.

.