Pro Codes Act Faces Opposition from ASME and Leading Standards Organizations
A new bill in Congress, called the Pro Codes Act (H.R. 4072), aims to clarify whether privately created technical standards keep their copyright protection when they become part of laws or regulations. These standards—like building codes or safety rules—are often developed by private organizations and used by manufacturers, engineers, and regulators across the country.
The bill says these standards can keep their copyright only if the organizations make them freely available online in a way that's easy to search. Supporters say this will help make important rules more accessible to the public.
However, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and a coalition of other major standards groups disagree. They sent a letter to Congress urging lawmakers to reject the bill. They say the bill could disrupt the system that allows private groups to develop and update these important standards. ASME's CEO, Tom Costabile, called the bill "misguided" and warned it could hurt safety, innovation, and the U.S. leadership in technology.
The coalition includes well-known groups such as IEEE, ASTM, SAE, and the American Welding Society. Together, they represent millions of engineers and technical experts nationwide. They argue the bill is being pushed forward without enough input from experts and could unfairly penalize the organizations that create the standards industries rely on.
For manufacturers and engineers, these standards guide how products are designed, built, and tested. The outcome could affect how easily and affordably these standards are accessed in the future.
As of June 30, 2025, the Pro Codes Act remains a topic of ongoing discussion in Congress. While it did not pass in the House during the previous session, the bill has not been permanently rejected and could potentially be reintroduced or reconsidered in future legislative sessions. A related version of the bill, S. 835, was introduced in the Senate on March 16, 2023, and is still active, which could influence future actions on this issue.
For more information on the bill's status and legislative history, visit the official Congress.gov page: H.R. 1631 - Pro Codes Act.