Organizationally speaking, the Safe Harbors part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), 17 U.S.C. § 512, doesn't make much sense. Provisions governing related matters are often scattered through the section, and because the order is not logical, it is difficult to recall where important provisions are to be found. For example, sub-section (i) is headed "Conditions for Eligibility." But they aren't the only conditions; others are stated in sub-sections (a)(1) through (5), (b), (c)(1), and elsewhere. The contents of a valid take-down notification are set forth in sub-section (c)(3)(A). But the requirements for a valid counter-notice are not found until a thousand words later, in sub-section (g)(3). The important provision that online service providers have no duty to monitor for infringing content is stated in a sub-section headed, "Protection of Privacy."
This interactive reworking fixes all that. DMCA Safe Harbors De-Coded reorganizes and imposes logic on the organizational mess that Congress gave us, with links in the Table of Contents and throughout the document that jump you where you need to go.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
