Issue 298 -October 27, 2006

Interim Rule Temporarily Extends Regulation on Existing Classes of Works

The Librarian of Congress has announced that he has temporarily extended the existing regulation designating the classes of works subject to an exemption from the prohibition on circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. The prohibition on circumvention in 17 U.S.C. section 1201(a)(1) shall not apply to persons who engage in noninfringing uses of works in the classes of works currently set forth in 37 C.F.R. section 201.40(b). The announcement will be published in the Federal Register on Monday, October 30, 2006, and is available on the Copyright Office website.

Within the next few weeks, the Librarian shall announce the new classes of works to be subject to exemption during the period ending October 27, 2009. (Read additional information on the rulemaking on exemptions from prohibition on circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works.)