DMCA Law Change – Action Required

YOU MUST RE-REGISTER YOUR DMCA AGENT

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) provides safe harbors from copyright infringement liability for online service providers. To qualify for the safe harbor users must designate an agent to receive notifications of claimed copyright infringement.

To designate an agent, a service provider must do two things: (1) make certain contact information for the agent available to the public on its website; and (2) provide the same information to the Copyright Office, which maintains a centralized online directory of designated agent contact information for public use. The service provider must also ensure that this information is up to date.

In December 2016, the Office introduced an online registration system and electronically generated directory to replace the Office’s old paper-based system and directory. USERS MUST RE-REGISTER THEIR DMCA AGENTS! To designate an agent, a service provider must register with and use the Office’s online system. Failure to re-register your current DMCA agent will result in the loss of your safe harbor.

While you have until the end of 2017 to enter your information, DO IT NOW! It only takes a few minutes and you will not receive another reminder. I am providing you the link you will need to use: https://dmca.copyright.gov/osp/login.html

Finally, the new rules require that all online service providers renew designations every three years, even if the information is the same. No reminders will be sent.