Forwarded e-mail update from a friend ...
Issue 445 - December 27, 2011
Copyright Office Announces Proposals Received in DMCA Anticircumvention Rulemaking
The United States Copyright Office seeks comments on proposals to exempt certain classes of works from the prohibition on circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. In September 2011, the Office initiated a rulemaking proceeding in accordance with provisions added by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act ("DMCA") that provide that the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, may exempt certain classes of works from the prohibition against circumvention.
The purpose of this rulemaking is to determine whether there are particular classes of works as to which users are, or are likely to be, adversely affected in their ability to make noninfringing uses due to the prohibition on circumvention. This notice publishes the classes of works received by the Office that were proposed by several parties in the comment period that ended on December 1, 2011.
Comments addressing the proposed classes of works are due on February 10, 2012. Reply comments addressing points made in the initial comments are due on March 2, 2012.
A comment form is posted on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov/1201/comment-forms. All proposed classes of works are available on the Copyright Office website at www.copyright.gov/1201/2011/initial/.
Calendar of events:
December 27, 2011 - Due date for reply comments on updating regulations governing designation of online service agents
January 9, 2012 - Due date for responses to any objections filed to the newly designated specialty stations
January 9, 2012 - Due date for responses to any of the MPAA objections
January 16, 2012 - Due date for comments on small copyright claims
February 10, 2012 - Due date for comments on proposed classes of works to be exempted from the prohibition against circumvention
March 2, 2012 - Due date for reply comments addressing points made in the initial comments on proposed classes of works to be exempted from the prohibition against circumvention.
