Peter Suber reports on H.R. 6845, which is officially called the "Fair Copyright in Research Works Act" but which Suber nicknames the "Stop Open Access Act" or the "Put Publishers First Act."

• A bill to overturn the NIH policy, by Peter Suber, SPARC Open Access Newsletter, issue #126m October 2, 2008.

Suber says that "the gist of the bill is to prohibit federal funding agencies from requiring grantees to transfer any rights or licenses to the government as a condition of funding..." and that "the bill would not only overturn the NIH policy, but block similar policies at every other federal agency."

He also points out that the NIH policy does not amend the US copyright statute but the new bill would do so.

Suber's article is thorough and includes lots of links to related materials including the bill and hearings.