Are there exceptions in the DMCA to allow circumvention of technological protection systems?
There are seven exemptions built into section 1201 of the DMCA, some of which permit the circumvention of access and copy controls for limited purposes, some of which allow for the limited distribution of circumvention tools in particular circumstances. These seven exemptions are for: • Libraries, archives, and educational institutions for acquisition purposes; [1201(d)] • Law enforcement and intelligence gathering activities; [1201(e)] • Reverse engineering in order to develop interoperable programs; [1201(f)] • Encryption Research; [1201(g)] • Protecting minors from material on the Internet; [1201(h)] • Protecting the privacy of personally identifying information; [1201(i)] • Security Testing [1201(j)] In addition to these seven exemptions, the Library of Congress is required every three years to exempt the circumvention of measures that prevent the “fair use” of copyrighted works. [1201(a)(1)(B-E)] The DMCA also contains provisions that ensure that the traditional rights of copyrigh
