Tenth Triennial Section 1201 Proceeding, 2027 Cycle

Comment Submission

The Copyright Office has initiated the tenth triennial rulemaking proceeding under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), section 1201 of Title 17. Under this provision, the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, may adopt temporary exemptions to section 1201’s prohibition against circumvention of technological measures that control access to copyright-protected works.


The triennial rulemaking identifies classes of works for which the DMCA’s anti-circumvention provision adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, in the next three years, users’ ability to make noninfringing uses. The Librarian then issues a regulation exempting the classes from the prohibition for the following three-year period.


The Office uses a streamlined procedure to renew exemptions granted during the ninth triennial rulemaking. Renewed exemptions remain in force for an additional three-year period (October 2027–October 2030).


Petitions for renewal of current exemptions and petitions proposing new exemptions were due August 24, 2026. Public submissions are forthcoming on this webpage and are available on regulations.gov. Written comments in response to petitions for renewal are due September 28, 2026.


For more information, please review the notice of inquiry.