Copyright Office Opens DMCA Exemption Rulemaking
AI-generated summary for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. See the original source for the authoritative text.
The rulemaking opens a new process to decide which uses of copyrighted works should be temporarily exempt from the DMCA ban on bypassing digital access controls. It invites petitions to renew existing exemptions and requests for new exemptions. Businesses, researchers, educators, repair providers, accessibility advocates, software developers, libraries, and copyright owners may be affected. Anyone seeking an exemption must file by August 24, 2026, and comments on renewal petitions are due by September 28, 2026.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Refer to official sources for legal decisions.
Key Changes
- Starts the tenth triennial DMCA exemption rulemaking process
- Allows petitions to renew current exemptions or request new ones
- Sets filing deadlines for petitions and comments through regulations.gov
Obligations
What this law requires
Anyone seeking a new exemption or renewal of a current exemption from the DMCA prohibition on circumvention of access-control technologies must submit a written petition by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on August 24, 2026.
Petitions for renewal of current exemptions must be completed using the renewal-petition form provided on the Copyright Office website and submitted electronically through regulations.gov, unless electronic submission is not feasible and special instructions are obtained from the Office.
Petitions proposing new exemptions must be completed using the new-petition form provided on the Copyright Office website and submitted electronically through regulations.gov, unless electronic submission is not feasible and special instructions are obtained from the Office.
Anyone submitting written comments in response to petitions for renewal must submit those comments by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on September 28, 2026.