In 2003 EFF applied for four exemptions to the Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) asking the Copyright Office to allow consumers to:

1. Play copy-protected audio CDs that malfunction to prevent playback
2. View foreign region-coded DVD movies on U.S. players
3. Fast-forward through unskippable commercials prior to movies on DVDs
4. Play and make full use of public domain movies on DVDs

None of the exemptions were granted.

EFF Prepared Testimony at Copyright Office section 1201 rule-making hearings presented by EFF Staff Attorney Gwen Hinze

• Foreign audiovisual works and movies released on non region 1 DVDs and not otherwise available in the United States
• Public domain motion pictures released on CSS-protected DVDs
• Sound recordings on copy-protected audio CDs
• DVDs with unskippable promotional material.

Hearings on Exemptions from Prohibition on Circumvention of Technological Measures that Control Access to Copyrighted Works Docket No. RM 2002-4C

• May 14 2003
• May 15 2003
• May 15 2003 Supplemental DVD Material
• Letter from Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)to the Copyright Register August 11 2003

2003 Determination and Copyright Office Recommendation

• 2003 Final Rule-making Determination by Librarian of Congress 68 FR 2011
• 2003 Final Rule-making Copyright Office Recommendation
• Copyright Office's subpage on post-hearing comments