There's an RFC today from the US Copyright Office,
the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration and the Commerce Department on the
adverse impact on encryption reasearch of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act:
http://jya.com/ntia052799.txt
This addresses an issue Gene Spafford at Purdue and
others have been protesting since the legislation was
first proposed, and later passed, to comply with the World
Intellectual Property Organization's agreed copyright
protection.
>From the RFC:
SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration
of the United States Department of Commerce and the United States
Copyright Office invite interested parties to submit comments on the
effects of Section 1201(g) of Title 17, United States Code, as adopted
in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, Pub. L. No. 105-304, 112 Stat.
2860 (Oct. 28, 1998) (``DMCA'') on encryption research and the
development of encryption technology; the adequacy and effectiveness of
technological measures designed to protect copyrighted works; and the
protection of copyright owners against unauthorized access to their
encrypted copyrighted works.
The DMCA, enacted on October 28, 1998, directs the Register of
Copyrights and the Assistant Secretary for Communications and
Information of the Department of Commerce to prepare a report for the
Congress examining the impact of Section 1201(g) on encryption research
and including legislative recommendations--if any--no later than one
year after enactment of the DMCA. This Federal Register Notice is
intended to solicit comments from interested parties on the effects of
section 1201(g) of the DMCA. More specifically, how will the provisions
of section 1201(g) of the DMCA affect encryption research?
The DMCA defines ``encryption research'' as identification and
analysis of flaws and vulnerabilities of encryption technologies
applied to copyrighted works. This activity must promote understanding
of encryption technology or advance the development of encryption
products.
DATES: Comments must be received by July 26, 1999.
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