CLEAR Act | ChamberLight

IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS

House BillHR 7140Commerce

CLEAR Act

INTRO JAN 16· LAST ACTION JAN 16

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Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

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Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

This bill would most directly affect "main street retailers" – local businesses and stores that sell consumer goods and services – and "end users," which are individuals or companies who buy and use products for their intended purpose without modifying them. If these groups are sued for patent infringement because of a product they sold or used, they could request a pause in their legal proceedings, potentially saving them significant legal costs and stress.

Indirectly, patent holders might be affected as they would primarily have to pursue manufacturers in certain cases, which could alter their litigation strategies. Manufacturers of products that are alleged to infringe patents would also be more directly in the crosshairs of patent lawsuits, potentially facing more immediate and focused legal pressure.

KEY PROVISIONS

5AI-extracted

PROVISION 01

Requires courts to temporarily halt (stay) patent infringement lawsuits against retailers or end users under specific conditions.

This is the central mechanism of the bill, offering direct protection to retailers and end users from immediate legal action.

PROVISION 02

A stay is granted only if the product's manufacturer is already involved in a patent lawsuit for the same product, and the retailer or end user did not make or modify the product.

These conditions ensure that the primary responsible party (the manufacturer) is addressed, and the protection is for those who are merely selling or using the product.

PROVISION 03

To get a stay, the retailer or end user must agree to waive certain future legal defenses and be bound by the outcomes and injunctions from the manufacturer's patent case.

This ensures that patent holders eventually get a resolution and that the issue isn't simply deferred indefinitely.

PROVISION 04

The court can lift the stay if it's shown that the manufacturer won't be able to pay any damages awarded in their case.

This provision acts as a safeguard for patent holders, ensuring they still have a path to recover damages if the manufacturer is financially unsound.

PROVISION 05

The court may require the retailer or end user to put up a bond or funds in escrow if there's a strong chance the manufacturer won't be able to pay damages.

This provides additional financial security for patent holders, protecting their ability to collect potential damage awards.

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ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 16

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 16

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

HOUSE · INTROREFERRAL

BILL INFO

TypeHouse Bill

NumberHR 7140

Congress119th

StatusIn Committee

IntroducedJan 16, 2026

Last actionJan 16, 2026

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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · JUDICIARY COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JAN 16, 2026

House BillHR 7140Commerce

CLEAR Act

INTRODUCED JAN 16, 2026· LAST ACTION JAN 16, 2026

PASSAGE CHANCES

—%

READING

4 min

COSPONSORS

COMPLEXITY

Moderate

Call my reps Congress.gov

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

STEP 2 OF 8

Introduced

In Committee

Reported

Passed House

Passed Senate

Conference

To President

Became Law

Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law

WHAT THE BILL DOES

AI-written

KEY PROVISIONS

AI-extracted

high

Requires courts to temporarily halt (stay) patent infringement lawsuits against retailers or end users under specific conditions.

This is the central mechanism of the bill, offering direct protection to retailers and end users from immediate legal action.

high

A stay is granted only if the product's manufacturer is already involved in a patent lawsuit for the same product, and the retailer or end user did not make or modify the product.

These conditions ensure that the primary responsible party (the manufacturer) is addressed, and the protection is for those who are merely selling or using the product.

high

To get a stay, the retailer or end user must agree to waive certain future legal defenses and be bound by the outcomes and injunctions from the manufacturer's patent case.

This ensures that patent holders eventually get a resolution and that the issue isn't simply deferred indefinitely.

med

The court can lift the stay if it's shown that the manufacturer won't be able to pay any damages awarded in their case.

This provision acts as a safeguard for patent holders, ensuring they still have a path to recover damages if the manufacturer is financially unsound.

med

The court may require the retailer or end user to put up a bond or funds in escrow if there's a strong chance the manufacturer won't be able to pay damages.

This provides additional financial security for patent holders, protecting their ability to collect potential damage awards.

DEADLINES & DATES

AI-extracted

An AI model extracted this from the bill’s official record and can make mistakes. Check the official text ↗ (opens in new tab)

Six months after specific events or the entry of the first scheduling order

Motion for a stay must be filed by the later of several dates, including six months after the first lawsuit document identifying the accused product, six months after the manufacturer becomes a party to a related action, or the date of the first scheduling order in the case.

Date of enactment of this Act

Effective date of the amendments, applying to actions where the complaint is served on or after this date.

GLOSSARY

AI-written

Patent infringement: Unauthorized making, using, selling, or importing of another's patented invention without permission.
Civil action: A lawsuit brought to protect a private right or to redress a private wrong, as opposed to a criminal case.
Stay of action: A temporary halt or suspension of legal proceedings in a court case.
Retailer: An individual or business that sells goods or services directly to the public, typically for consumer use.
End user: A person or entity that uses a product for its ordinary, intended purpose and did not create or modify the product itself.
Manufacturer: An entity that makes, assembles, integrates, transforms, or supplies a product.
Accused instrumentality: The specific product or method that is claimed to be infringing on a patent.
Injunction: A court order requiring a person or entity to do or to stop doing a specific action.

ACTION TIMELINE

2 EVENTS

JAN 16

Introduced in House

INTROREFERRAL

JAN 16

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

INTROREFERRAL

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CLEAR Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

SPONSORSHIP

ACTION TIMELINE

BILL INFO

READER REACTIONS

Discussion

CLEAR Act

LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS

WHAT THE BILL DOES

KEY PROVISIONS

DEADLINES & DATES

GLOSSARY

ACTION TIMELINE

SPONSORS

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