> (current title) DMCA Excemptions to "Copyright Protection Systems" Being Reconsidered<p>"Reconsidered" is a very poor choice of wording here, as it makes it sound like they are intending to take back these exemptions, in the future tense. As someone involved in this process often, my heart skipped a beat when I saw this headline.<p>In fact, all but one existing exemption was renewed. I dug into the Registrar to figure out which one was not being recommended, as it was remarkably difficult to figure it out... the information ended up being in some footnote.<p>> A renewal petition was not filed for the current exemption permitting circumvention of video games in the form of computer programs for the purpose of allowing an individual with a physical disability to use alternative software or hardware input methods. See 37 CFR 201.40(b)(21). The Office therefore will not recommend this exemption to the Librarian for renewal.
We really ought to just nullify DMCA 1201 entirely, but at an absolute minimum it must not apply to otherwise lawful pruposes.<p>This can be packaged with right-to-repair alongside explicit allowance for interop.
Every three years the Librarian of Congress publishes exceptions to the copy protection circumvention. The public can comment in support for renewing existing exemptions or adding new ones. Copyright holders or other can also lobby to remove exemptions. This covers fundamental access control technology such as encryption on everything from software to video to music to books.<p>This is also is more interesting as copyright holders consider the impact of allowing generative AI to train on their copyrighted works. Discuss!