Submit your DMCA Stories

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) makes it illegal to rip from DVDs, Blu-Ray and many other technologies. For over a decade, this law undermined filmmakers’ ability to make fair use in their films. But in July 2010, documentary filmmakers won a three-year exemption that allows you to take materials from DVDs in order to make fair use. This year, we will be requesting that this exemption be renewed to allow all filmmakers to obtain the film clips they need – and to do so, WE NEED YOUR HELP.

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Have you obtained clips from DVDs for use in a documentary since July 2010? (Generally, the 2010 exemption makes this use legal, if it was done for purposes of fair use, such as for criticism or commentary.)

Are you currently planning or producing a film -- whether documentary or fictional -- that will require you to obtain clips from DVDs in the near future?

Are you planning or producing a film that will require you to obtain clips from Blu-Ray? Have you been harmed by an inability to access clips from Blu-Ray for use in your film? (In other words, do you need footage that is not available elsewhere or is not feasible to obtain from DVD or other sources, or needs to be HD-quality?)

Do you need to use clips from cable, satellite, or Internet streaming sites in your film?

For example, do you need material that is NOT available on DVD or Blu-Ray?
Or, is your need time-sensitive, and the material will not be available on DVD or Blu-Ray until after your production deadline? (For example, your project is a weekly film series that comments on popular culture or current events, and you need material consisting of entertainment or news coverage, and this material is only available from broadcast, cable, satellite, or encrypted news websites.)
Or, is it unclear when, or if, the material you need will ever be released on DVD or Blu-Ray?
(For example, you want to discuss political events, and need to use footage of a political protest uploaded by an individual to a website that hosts user-generated content.)

Have you been harmed by the DMCA in some other way? If so, you are not alone -- and we want to hear your story.

Do you have any questions? Please e-mail us at DMCAstories@law.usc.edu.

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Submit your DMCA Stories