The U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
众律国际法律事务所  专利工程师暨法务专员林春宏
美国柏克莱加州大学 分子生物学士
美国柏克莱加州大学 信息管理 硕士
加拿大英属哥伦比亚大学 法律博士
2012-12-12

The U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) implements two treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO):  the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.  In addition, the DMCA Title I implements the anti-circumvention provisions that prohibit the circumvention of technological measures such as digital rights management (DRM). 

DMCA Title II, the Online Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act (17 USC § 512), creates a safe harbor provision for online service providers such as YouTube and Yahoo as well as internet service providers such as AT&T DSL High Speed Internet and Comcast Broadband Internet.  To claim exemptions from copyright infringement liabilities, the service providers must promptly block or remove alleged infringing materials posted or disseminated by their users or customers, when the service providers receive notification of copyright infringement claims from copyright holders or their agents. 

DMCA Title II also includes a counter-notification provision that offers service providers a safe harbor from liabilities to their users when the alleged infringing materials turn out to be non-infringing.  Furthermore, DMCA section 512(h) contains provisions that permit copyright owners or their agents to force online service providers or internet service providers to reveal identifying information about the users who allegedly infringed the owners' copyright, via the utilization of subpoenas issued by a federal court at the request of copyright owners or their agents.

DMCA Title III: Computer Maintenance Competition Assurance Act modified section 117 of the copyright law to allow technicians who repair computers to make certain temporary, limited copies while fixing the computers.  DMCA Title IV contains miscellaneous provisions concerning the Copyright Office, broadcasters, distance education, libraries, etc.  DMCA Title V: Vessel Hull Design Protection Act added a sui generis protection for boat hull designs.

References:

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/512