(DMCA) Digital Millennium Copyright Act

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a United States copyright law that was enacted in 1998. It criminalizes production and dissemination of technology, devices, or services intended to circumvent measures (commonly known as Digital Rights Management or DRM) that control access to copyrighted works. It also criminalizes the act of circumventing an access control, whether or not there is actual infringement of copyright itself.

The DMCA also provides safe harbor provisions for online service providers that store infringing content, as long as they follow specific rules and procedures when receiving takedown notices. This has made it possible for online service providers to host a vast amount of user-generated content without being held liable for copyright infringement.

The act has been widely criticized by proponents of a free and open internet, who argue that it restricts fair use and stifles innovation. Critics also argue that the takedown provisions of the law can be abused by copyright holders to remove lawful speech from the internet.

Here are some links for information about the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA):

• U.S. Copyright Office: https://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

• Electronic Frontier Foundation: https://www.eff.org/issues/dmca

• Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Millennium_Copyright_Act

• American Bar Association: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/intellectual_property_law/resources/ip-law-products-services/books/the-digital-millennium-copyright-act-2/

• Chilling Effects Clearinghouse: https://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca/

• Stanford University Libraries: https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/dmca/

• Law Insider: https://www.lawinsider.com/dictionary/digital-millennium-copyright-act-dmca

• National Law Review: https://www.natlawreview.com/article/dmca-faqs-what-you-need-know

Note: These links provide general information about the DMCA. If you have specific questions or need legal advice, you should consult with a licensed attorney.