Dmca Code Of Ethics

Words: 974
Pages: 4

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1998. With the new advances in the internet, this legislation was put in to place to keep the copyright infringement laws current with the advancing digital age. The DMCA is the most significant change to U.S. copyright law since its last major revision in 1976. It was drafted by the top publishers, scientists, civil rights groups, and many other groups in the United States because their interests frequently conflict. It was a controversial Act because, in its original form, it would have outlawed many necessary ethical activities. It made activities like encryption research and reverse-engineering software illegal. Those two activities are very important …show more content…
“Title I, the “WIPO Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties Implementation Act of 1998,” implements the WIPO treaties. Title II, the “Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act,” creates limitations on the liability of online service providers for copyright infringement when engaging in certain types of activities. Title III, the “Computer Maintenance Competition Assurance Act,” creates an exemption for making a copy of a computer program by activating a computer for purposes of maintenance or repair. Title IV contains six miscellaneous provisions, relating to the functions of the Copyright Office, distance education, the exceptions in the Copyright Act for libraries and for making ephemeral recordings, “webcasting” of sound recordings on the Internet, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreement obligations in the case of transfers of rights in motion pictures. Title V, the “Vessel Hull Design Protection Act,” creates a new form of protection for the design of vessel …show more content…
It is good for the original creator of the product but not good for the consumer because they most likely have to pay for it. The anti-circumvention rules are in place to prevent people from stealing people’s ideas. You can purchase an iPhone but it is illegal for you to take it apart and figure out how it works. Most people think that since they purchased it, it is their’s and they are free to do what they want with it, but they are wrong. Another example would be hacking. Say there’s software on the internet that somebody wants but doesn’t want to pay for it. Any hacking of that software so you can obtain a free copy of it violates the anti-circumvention rules and you could be facing up to a $1,000,000 fine and up to ten years in prison if this isn’t the first violation. There are exceptions to protect those who are accidently violating the terms of the anti-circumvention laws. Repeat offenders will be charged and saying that it was an accident will not stand in court. Law enforcement is exempt from the anti-circumvention laws because their actions are lawfully authorized law enforcement, intelligence, and information security