Update: due to popular demand, we've moved to a bigger space! We'll be at UCLA Moore Hall, Room 3340 (Reading Room), 457 Portola Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095. There's 20 new spaces open: RSVP today!

A law intended to stop people from making off-brand DVD players now means that security researchers can’t warn you about dangers from the cameras in your bedroom; that mechanics can’t fix your car; and that your printer won’t take third party ink.

It’s been 20 years since Congress enacted the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Section 1201 of that long, gnarly hairball of a law bans “circumvention” of any kind of copyright lock. Originally that meant you couldn’t tweak your DVD player to play out-of-region discs, nor descramble the cable channels you haven't paid for.

Today, it means any gadget with software can be designed so that manufacturers can accuse you of violating DMCA 1201 just by using it in ways they don’t like—say, by getting your car fixed by an independent mechanic, or by fixing your own tractor. Just warning people about scary security defects in the products they rely is an invitation to legal retaliation under DMCA 1201.

Every three years, the US Copyright Office holds hearings about proposed exceptions to this law. This is one of those years, and we’re coming to UCLA to testify before the Copyright Office on preserving your rights to use your property as you see fit (even if that upsets a big company’s shareholders!).

Come and hear about what we showed and told the Copyright Office, and ask us questions about your freedom and the funny thing that happened to us all on the way to the twenty-first century.

Speakers:

Kit Walsh (EFF)

Kyle Wiens (iFixit)

Robert Miranda (SmarTeks)

Matthew Zieminski (Puls)

(more to be confirmed)

Emceed by Cory Doctorow (EFF)

As seating is limited, we ask that you RSVP at pretix.eu/readme/right-to-repair. In the event you are unable to attend, please use the link provided in your confirmation email to make your spot available again.

UCLA Moore Hall
Room 3340 (Reading Room)
457 Portola Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Pay parking is available in nearby UCLA Parking Structure 2. Look for the short-term, non-permit parking spaces, where you will find meters that accept credit card or cash (no change). Parking begins at $3/hour and goes up to $12/day. Find more details including directions for accessible parking at transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking/visitors. Public transit information can be found at lacmta.metrocloudalliance.com.

Related Issues

DRM
DMCA
DMCA Rulemaking

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