Copyright and Digital Rights Management Issues

Altering formats of, copying, or repurposing copyrighted content to allow access with assistive technologies must remain a protection available to consumers with print disabilities. Proposals purporting to establish technologies to prevent illegal copying or publication of copyrighted content must consider and address the fair use rights of persons who are blind and visually impaired.

On November 27, 2006, the Librarian of Congress, on the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, announced that literary works distributed in ebook format are exempt from the prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyrighted works. Persons making noninfringing uses of the following six classes of works will not be subject to the prohibition against circumventing access controls (17 U.S.C. &167; 1201(a)(1)) during the next three years.

For information on copyright and digital rights management issues, choose links on this page.

This page was updated November 6, 2007