August 19, 2015
NPR‘s Laura Sydell reports that the Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA) is working its magic in unthinkable ways. Originally crafted to safeguard the entertainment industry, its provisions are being applied to practically anything that runs on copyrighted software protected by digital locks. This includes farming equipment. Farmers, as an example, risk violating the DMCA and face a hefty prison term and/or fine if they break the software’s digital lock to fix equipment that breaks down. Equipment manufacturers cite safety concerns while users balk at the expense of being forced to use external service providers. DMCA exemptions may be granted, but these only last 3 years. A better option, for farmers and others, would be amendment of the DMCA. Of course, that is something the equipment manufacturers would like to avoid.