STATEMENT ON HOUSE JUDICIARY HEARING COVERING SECTION 512 OF DMCA

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Michael Beckerman, President and CEO of the Internet Association, released the following statement regarding today’s hearing entitled, “Section 512 of Title 17” conducted by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet:

“The Digital Millennium Copyright Act is a key reason for the success of and innovation on the Internet. Enacted shortly after the launch of the commercial Internet, the DMCA has withstood the test of time. As with all statutes, the DMCA is not perfect. Its notice-and-takedown system has been abused by those seeking to influence political speech and gain unfair advantage of commercial competitors. And, it does not serve as a panacea that eliminates all illegally distributed content on the Internet. Its balanced framework, however, has served rightsholders, innovators, and users well.”

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