What does Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) mean?
Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) is a United States copyright law enacted in 1998 that addresses the rights and responsibilities of online platforms and content creators in the digital age. The DMCA criminalizes the circumvention of digital copy protection systems and establishes a ‘safe harbor’ provision that protects online platforms from copyright liability when users upload infringing content — provided the platform removes the content promptly when notified. For performers and content creators, the DMCA provides a legal mechanism to request removal of unauthorized uses of their work online.
Example:When an unauthorized clip of a child actor’s television appearance was posted without permission on a video-sharing site, the production company’s legal team filed a DMCA takedown notice to have it removed.
Example: A parent discovered that footage from her child’s commercial was being used without authorization on a third-party website, and worked with the production company to submit a DMCA notice requesting its removal.
Did you know?
The DMCA takedown process is so widely used that major platforms like YouTube receive millions of takedown notices per year. YouTube’s Content ID system — which automatically detects copyrighted material — was developed in large part as a response to the volume of DMCA complaints the platform was receiving.
You can also find “Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)” and related terms in this category: Online and Digital Media.
