CO Seeks Comment on Parameters of Study on Copyright Law, Product Software

The Copyright Office seeks comment by Feb. 16 on what provisions​ in existing U.S. copyright law “are implicated by the ubiquity of software in everyday products, and the effect of copyright law on technological advancements in such products.” Reply comments are due March 18, the CO said in Tuesday's Federal Register. The CO said it's doing the study in response to a request from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and ranking member Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. They sought the study in October, days before the CO and Library of Congress released 10 exemptions to Digital Millennium Copyright Act Section 1201 (see 1510230036). Topics the CO wants to study include whether the application of copyright law to software in everyday products “enables or frustrates innovation and creativity in the design, distribution and legitimate uses of new products and innovative services,” the office said. The CO said it's also seeking information on whether legitimate business models for copyright owners “could be improved or undermined by changes to copyright law in this area.” The study isn't “intended to examine or address more general questions about software and copyright protection,” the CO said.