Copyright Alert: Copyright Office's New Electronic System For Designating Agents Under The DMCA

IMPORTANT ACTION REQUIRED: All online service providers, including those that previously designated an agent to the U.S. Copyright Office on a paper form, must submit new designations of agents through the new electronic designation system by December 31, 2017 in order to avail of the DMCA safe harbors. Service providers may access the new online designation system at the following URL: www.copyright.gov.

Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) an online service provider who meets certain eligibility requirements can avail itself of safe harbors from copyright infringement liability for specified activities, such as storage of material at the direction of its users. Online service providers must follow certain steps in order to take advantage of the safe harbors, including registering a designated agent with the U.S. Copyright Office to receive notifications of claimed copyright infringement.