On December 1, 2016, the U.S. Copyright Office launched its new
electronic registration system through which DMCA agents can be
designated and found to receive notice of alleged copyright
infringement under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
(DMCA). The new electronic DMCA registration system should be
easier, faster, and more cost effective than the previous
paper-based system, with only a couple of strings attached.
First, all first-time agent designations now must be made
through the electronic DMCA registration system. Second, all
previous agent designations made through the old paper-based DMCA
registration system must be re-registered through the new
electronic registration system by no later than December
31, 2017. Failure to re-register by the December 31,
2017 deadline will result in the prior registration’s lapse
and the removal of safe-harbor protection under the DMCA.
