DMCA Unintended Consequences


  • Most of the concerns are about the provisions of DMCA Title I and Title II:
    • Fears that Title 1 provisions will suppress legitimate activities such as research
    • Fears that the Title II provisions overburden OSPs

Title 1 Concerns

  • anti-circumvention technology protection measures
    • concerned that these provisions will stifle research
    • because of the criminal penalties that are attached to violating these provisions
    • In 2001, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested a security researcher from Russia for publishing software that bypassed access controls on e-books
      • violation of DMCA’s technology protection measures
      • researcher was arrested after making a presentation about the security issues at the Def Con conference in Las Vegas
      • researcher and the Russian company were charged
      • charges against the researcher were dropped
      • jury acquitted the Russian company of charges that it violated the DMC
  • anti-circumvention provisions hinder fair use and, therefore, free speech
    • complaints ask about what happens when DRM-protected materials enter the public domain
    • How can they be properly used in the public domain if there are no available tools to remove DRM protection

Title II Concerns

  • Many people argue that it places too much of a burden on OSPs in responding to “notice and takedown” letters from copyright holders
    • OSP must act on the notice to maintain its safe harbor protection
    • might take down material inappropriately
    • could hamper free speech
  • Since beginning of DMCA, Google has received 5 billion takedown requests