Response to DOJ Letter on DMCA Exemptions for Security Researchers

On June 28, the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Department of Justice sent a letter to the Copyright Office. In this letter, CCIPS voiced its support for CDT’s request that the Office expand an exemption under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) that allows computer security researchers to find and repair flaws and vulnerabilities in programs without running afoul of copyright law. 

To express our appreciation for both the letter and the Copyright Office’s willingness to accept it into the record for this exemption proceeding, we and our colleagues at the Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law & Policy Clinic submitted a response to the letter. We hope the Office will give the CCIPS letter due consideration as it prepares its recommendations for the next round of exemptions.