Finally members of Congress have put forth serious DMCA reform legislation and rights groups are praising it right out of the gate. The new legislation is called the “Unlocking Technology Act of 2013,” and is sponsored by Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Jared Polis (D-CO). The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 legalizes unlocking cell phone unlocking and modifies the DMCA so that unlocking copy-protected content is only illegal if it’s done in order to “facilitate the infringement of a copyright.”
“Americans should not be subject to fines and criminal liability for merely unlocking devices and media they legally purchased,” said Rep. Lofgren in a press release announcing the bill. “If consumers are not violating copyright or some other law, there’s little reason to hold back the benefits of unlocking so people can continue using their devices.”
Lofgren’s bill is being praised by rights groups such as Public Knowledge and activist like Derek Khanna who was fired from his job on Capital Hill for advocating for copyright reform.
The article talks mostly about cell phones, but also applies to e-books, music, and other materials affected by copyright protection methods. Read the rest of the article and a summary of the bill here. And if you support this act, then get in touch with your Congressional representatives to let them know it’s a good idea! Sometimes things do actually go RIGHT in Congress.
Real DMCA Reform: The Unlocking Technology Act of 2013 | GamePolitics