Pub. L. 109-435, tit. IV, sec. 403
UNFAIR COMPETITION PROHIBITED.
SEC. 403. UNFAIR COMPETITION PROHIBITED.(a) Specific Limitations.—Chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 404 the following:“§ 404a. Specific limitations“(a) Except as specifically authorized by law, the Postal Service may not—“(1) establish any rule or regulation (including any standard) the effect of which is to preclude competition or establish the terms of competition unless the Postal Service demonstrates that the regulation does not create an unfair competitive advantage for itself or any entity funded (in whole or in part) by the Postal Service;“(2) compel the disclosure, transfer, or licensing of intellectual property to any third party (such as patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and proprietary information); or“(3) obtain information from a person that provides (or seeks to provide) any product, and then offer any postal service that uses or is based in whole or in part on such information, without the consent of the person providing that information, unless substantially the same information is obtained (or 120 STAT. 3227 obtainable) from an independent source or is otherwise obtained (or obtainable).“(b) The Postal Regulatory Commission shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.“(c) Any party (including an officer of the Commission representing the interests of the general public) who believes that the Postal Service has violated this section may bring a complaint in accordance with section 3662.” .(b) Conforming Amendments.—(1) General powers.—Section 401 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking “The” and inserting “Subject to the provisions of section 404a, the”.(2) Specific powers.—Section 404(a) of title 39, United States Code, is amended by striking “Without” and inserting “Subject to the provisions of section 404a, but otherwise without”.(c) Clerical Amendment.—The analysis for chapter 4 of title 39, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 404 the following: “404a. Specific limitations.”.