FTC and DOJ Ask CO to Renew Right to Repair Exemptions in DMCA

The Copyright Office should renew and expand right to repair-related exemptions under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the FTC and DOJ said in joint comments announced Thursday. The CO is considering renewing exemptions to the DMCA’s prohibitions against circumvention of technology protection measures that control access to copyrighted content. Renewing and expanding the repair-related exemptions would “promote competition in markets for replacement parts, repair, and maintenance services, as well as facilitate competition in markets for repairable products,” the agencies said. Enforcers support the renewal of an exemption “related to computer programs that control devices designed primarily for use by consumers for diagnosis, maintenance, or repair of the device and expanding it to include commercial and industrial equipment,” they said.