Yesterday we testified before the United States Copyright Office seeking an exemption to the copyright laws that would allow filmmakers to bypass encryption on DVDs, Blu-ray and digitally transmitted video for the purpose of fair use. Jim Morrissette and Gordon Quinn from Kartemquin Films as well as IPAT students Aaron Benmark and Rahul Sajnani represented the independent filmmaking community well, offering cogent testimony about the specifics of the exemption we are seeking as well as the technical challenges filmmakers face in trying to make their films. Chris Perez from Donaldson & Callif, LLP also testified about the plight of narrative filmmakers. The Copyright Office staff asked many good questions and we appreciated the chance to explain our position to them. We look forward to the next steps in this process!
You can read more about our efforts on behalf of the International Documentary Association, Film Independent, NAMAC, and many others to seek an exemption to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act here.
h/t to Art Neill of New Media Rights who also testified in support of an exemption. Thanks for the photo, Art!