Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/658

 98 STAT. 1818

PUBLIC LAW 98-462—OCT. 11, 1984 DISCLOSURE OF JOINT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT VENTURE

15 USC 4305.

Federal Register, publication.

Public information. Confidentiality.

SEC. 6. (a) Any party to a joint research and development venture, acting on such venture's behalf, may, not later than 90 days after entering into a written agreement to form such venture or not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, whichever is later, file simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Commission a written notification disclosing— (1) the identities of the parties to such venture, and (2) the nature and objectives of such venture. Any party to such venture, acting on such venture's behalf, may file additional disclosure notifications pursuant to this section as are appropriate to extend the protections of section 4. In order to maintain the protections of section 4, such venture shall, not later than 90 days after a change in its membership, file simultaneously with the Attorney General and the Commission a written notification disclosing such change. (b) Except as provided in subsection (e), not later than 30 days after receiving a notification filed under subsection (a), the Attorney General or the Commission shall publish in the Federal Register a notice with respect to such venture that identifies the parties to such venture and that describes in general terms thp area of planned activity of such venture. Prior to its publication, the contents of such notice shall be made available to the parties to such venture. (c) If with respect to a notification filed under subsection (a), notice is published in the Federal Register, then such notification shall operate to convey the protections of section 4 as of the earlier of— (1) the date of publication of notice under subsection (b), or (2) if such notice is not so published within the time required by subsection (b), after the expiration of the 30-day period beginning on the date the Attorney General or the Commission receives the applicable information described in subsection (a). (d) Except with respect to the information published pursuant to subsection (b)— (1) all information and documentary material submitted as part of a notification filed pursuant to this section, and (2) all other information obtained by the Attorney General or the Commission in the course of any investigation, administrative proceeding, or case, with respect to a potential violation of the antitrust laws by the joint research and development venture with respect to which such notification was filed, shall be exempt from disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code, and shall not be made publicly available by any agency of the United States to which such section applies except in a judicial or administrative proceeding in which such information and material is subject to any protective order. (e) Any person who files a notification pursuant to this section may withdraw such notification before notice of the joint research and development venture involved is published under subsection (b). Any notification so withdrawn shall not be subject to subsection (b) and shall not confer the protections of section 4 on any person with respect to whom such notification was filed. (f) Any action taken or not taken by the Attorney General or the Commission with respect to notifications filed pursuant to this section shall not be subject to judicial review.

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