Hacker News Reader

You mention that removing the DRM isn’t exactly legal— is this something that right to repair would address? Are there places where DRM circumvention is legal? I had thought that at least in some jurisdictions breaking the DRM on things you’d bought yourself was a protected activity, but I confess I know next to nothing about where things stand.

View on HN

In the US, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) made it illegal to bypass DRM[1]. It also set up the ability to get exceptions by presenting at the copyright office. And the exceptions expire after three years and must be argued again.

The practical side of this is that no one is coming after you individually for removing DRM from your own files. They will target the tools people use, or especially online services that are available.

1 - The DRM just has to exist on the file, there’s no need for it to be strong or require massive effort to undo.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com