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Digital Millennium Copyright Act
 

Information About

Dmca




  Fullname To amend title 17, United States Code, to implement the World Intellectual Property Organization Copyright Treaty and Performances and Phonograms Treaty, and for other purposes
  Acronym DMCA
  Enactedby 105th Congress
  Effectivedate October 28 , 1998
  Cite Publ Pub L 105-304
  Publ Url http://thomaslocgov/cgi-bin/toGPO/http://frwebgateaccessgpogov/cgi-bin/getdoccgidbname=105_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ304105pdf
  Cite Stat 112 Stat 2860 (1998)
  Actsamended Copyright Act Of 1976
  Titleamended 5 (Government Organization and Employees) 17 (Copyrights) 28 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) 35 (Patents)
  Sectionscreated 17 USC &sect&sect 512, 1201-1205, 1301-1332 28 USC &sect 4001
  Sectionsamended 17 USC &sect&sect 101, 104, 104A, 108, 112, 114, 117, 701
  Leghisturl http://thomaslocgov/cgi-bin/bdquery/zd105:HR02281:@@@X
  Introducedin House Of Representatives
  Introducedbill HR 2281
  Introducedby Rep Howard Coble ( R - NC )
  Introduceddate July 29 , 1997
  Committees House Judiciary Committee (Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property) House Commerce Committee (Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection)
  Passedbody1 House
  Passeddate1 August 4 , 1998
  Passedvote1 voice vote
  Passedbody2 Senate
  Passeddate2 September 17 , 1998
  Passedvote2 unanimous consent
  Conferencedate October 8 , 1998
  Passedbody3 Senate
  Passeddate3 October 8 , 1998
  Passedvote3 unanimous consent
  Passedbody4 House
  Passeddate4 October 12 , 1998
  Passedvote4 voice vote
  Signedpresident Clinton
  Signeddate October 28 , 1998
  Amendments None


The Digital Millennium Copyright Act ('''DMCA''') is a United States Copyright Law . The act criminalizes production and dissemination of technology that can Circumvent measures taken to protect copyright, not merely infringement of copyright itself, and heightens the penalties for copyright infringement on the Internet. Passed on May 14 , 1998 by a unanimous vote in the United States Senate and signed into law by President Bill Clinton on October 28 , 1998 , the DMCA amended title 17 of the US Code to extend the reach of copyright, while limiting the liability of Online Providers from Copyright Infringement by their users.

On May 22 , 2001 the European Union passed the EU Copyright Directive or EUCD, similar in many ways to the DMCA.


DMCA TITLE I: WIPO COPYRIGHT AND PERFORMANCES AND PHONOGRAMS TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION ACT


DMCA Title I, the WIPO Copyright And Performances And Phonograms Treaties Implementation Act has two major portions, one of which includes works covered by several treaties in US copy prevention laws and gave the title its name and the other which is often known as the DMCA anti-circumvention provisions. The latter implemented a broad ban on the circumvention of copy prevention systems and required that all analogue video recorders have copy prevention built in.


DMCA TITLE II: ONLINE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT LIABILITY LIMITATION ACT


DMCA Title II, the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act , creates a Safe Harbor for online service providers (OSPs, including ISPs) against copyright liability if they adhere to and qualify for certain prescribed safe harbor guidelines and promptly block access if they receive a notification from a copyright holder or their agent. It also includes a counter-notification which requires restoration of the material and a provision for subpoenas to identify alleged infringers.


DMCA TITLE III: COMPUTER MAINTENANCE COMPETITION ASSURANCE ACT

DMCA Title III modified section 117 of the copyright title so that those repairing computers could make certain temporary, limited copies while working on a computer.


DMCA TITLE IV: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

DMCA Title IV contains an assortment of provisions:


DMCA TITLE V: VESSEL HULL DESIGN PROTECTION ACT

DMCA Title V added sections 1301 through 1332 to add protection for boat hull designs.

As useful articles whose form cannot be cleanly separated from their function, boat hull designs were formerly not protected under copyright law.


REFORM

There are efforts in Congress to modify the Act. Rick Boucher , a Democratic congressman from Virginia, is leading one of these efforts by introducing the Digital Media Consumers’ Rights Act (DMCRA).

A prominent bill related to the DMCA is the Consumer Broadband And Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA), known in early drafts as the Security Systems and Standards Certification Act (SSSCA). This bill, if it had passed, would have dealt with the devices used to access digital content and would have been even more restrictive than the DMCA.


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