U.S. Copyright Office Announces Start of Tenth Triennial Rulemaking Proceeding Under Section 1201

The Copyright Office has published a notice of inquiry and request for petitions initiating the tenth triennial rulemaking proceeding under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), section 1201 of Title 17 of the United States Code. Section 1201 provides that the Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Register of Copyrights, may adopt temporary exemptions to the DMCA’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, users’ ability to make noninfringing uses due to the prohibition on circumventing access controls. When such classes are identified, the Librarian promulgates regulations exempting the classes from the prohibition for the succeeding three-year period.

The Office uses a streamlined procedure for the renewal of exemptions granted during the previous triennial rulemaking. If renewed, those current exemptions would remain in force for an additional three-year period (October 2027–October 2030).

The notice of inquiry requests that interested parties submit petitions proposing new exemptions and petitions for renewal of exemptions granted in the ninth triennial rulemaking by August 24, 2026. Written comments in response to petitions for renewal are due September 28, 2026.

For more information, please visit the Tenth Triennial Section 1201 Proceeding webpage.