Company
Date Published
Author
Justin Colannino
Word count
1727
Language
English
Hacker News points
None

Summary

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a 22-year-old U.S. law, is currently under review, with the U.S. Copyright Office seeking public input on proposed exemptions to Section 1201, which prohibits circumventing technological measures like digital rights management (DRM). These exemptions aim to permit certain non-infringing uses, such as security research, device repair, and accessibility enhancements, that would otherwise be restricted. The process allows for exemptions to be renewed every three years but does not permit the distribution of circumvention tools. Key proposals include expanding exemptions for computer program repair and modification, jailbreaking to improve interoperability, unlocking devices for alternative wireless use, and enabling security research without the current chilling effects. Additional proposals focus on accessibility, text and data mining, copyright license investigations, and preservation. Developers are encouraged to submit comments with real-world examples to the Copyright Office by specified deadlines, to influence the outcome of these exemptions.