Copyright Office Announces Public Hearings on Possible Exemption to Prohibition of Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies

"The Copyright Office announces public hearings on the possible exemptions to the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. In accordance with the Copyright Act, as amended by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the Office is conducting its triennial rulemaking proceeding 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 if they are prohibited from circumventing such technological measures. The first public hearing, confined to demonstrations of technology, will be held in Washington D.C., on Friday, May 11, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. Public hearings will also be conducted in Los Angeles, California, at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2012, and Friday, May 18, 2012. Additional public hearings will be conducted in Washington, D.C., at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 31, 2012, Friday, June 1, 2012, and Monday, June 4, through Wednesday, June 6, 2012. Requests to testify must be received by 5:00 p.m. eastern daylight time, Monday, April 2, 2012. For further information, see www.copyright.gov/1201/.

March 11, 2012
Hearing in Washington, D.C., on possible exemptions to the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. This hearing will be confined to demonstrations of technology.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.
May 17-18, 2012
Hearing in Los Angeles, California, on possible exemptions to the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.
May 31-June 1 and June 4-June 6, 2012
Hearing in Washington, D.C., on possible exemptions to the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.