Digital Millennium Copyright Act: Difference between revisions

The '''[[wikipedia:Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act|Digital Millenium Copyright Act]]''' (DMCA) is a copyright law passed in 1998 to amend Title 17 of the United States Code.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1998-10-28 |title=Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260125064622/https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-105publ304/pdf/PLAW-105publ304.pdf |archive-date=2026-01-25 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=GovInfo}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=1998-10-08 |title=H.R.2281 - Digital Millennium Copyright Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260201003346/https://www.congress.gov/bill/105th-congress/house-bill/2281 |archive-date=2026-02-01 |access-date=2026-02-03 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref> Among its provisions are criminalizing the production and dissemination of information intended to circumvent copy protections

that protect intellectual property, such as those considered digital rights management. It was later amended in 1998 to shield from liability ISPs that consumers may use to gain access to such information.

The law also provides that the Library of Congress issue exemptions from the prohibition when it is shown that access-control technology has had a substantial adverse effect on the ability of people to make non-infringing uses of copyrighted works. These exemptions are not granted in perpetuity. They are revised every 3 years, and existing exemptions must be resubmitted for the next rulemaking cycle alongside any new ones.

This law is one of the earliest to address the digital multimedia era, where previous law was deemed insufficient with the technology of the time period (even though its effect covers all digital information). Although the law is meant to supplement intellectual property rights, there are concerns that it conflicts with consumers' interests. This is due to the specific text of the law, as well as its interpretation being used to attack activity by consumers that would otherwise be permitted. Concerns over Right to Repair, Fair Use, and an overall lack of valid paths to refute or redress accusations of violating the law remain.