Washington, D.C. - Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) Intellectual Property Director Corynne McSherry will testify Wednesday at a congressional hearing on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the dangerous "anti-circumvention" provisions that harm users, researchers, innovators, and more.

The anti-circumvention language of Section 1201 of the DMCA has been used to threaten those who unlock or jailbreak their phones, block aftermarket competition in toner cartridges and video came console accessories, and narrow the public's fair use rights. In her testimony Wednesday, McSherry will argue that the costs of this law far outweigh the benefits, and that best way to fix Section 1201 is to get rid of it entirely. Short of that, the anti-circumvention provisions should be reformed so that it is focused clearly on copyright infringement.

Wednesday's hearing is part of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet.

WHO:
Corynne McSherry
Intellectual Property Director, Electronic Frontier Foundation

WHAT:
"Chapter 12 Under Title 17"
The House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet

WHEN:
10 a.m.
Wednesday, September 17

WHERE:
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

For more on the hearing:
http://judiciary.house.gov/index.cfm/2014/9/hearing-chapter-12-of-title-17

Contact:

Rebecca Jeschke
   Media Relations Director
   Electronic Frontier Foundation
   press@eff.org