"The 1998 enactment of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) represents the most comprehensive reform of United States copyright law in a generation. The DMCA seeks to update U.S. copyright law for the digital age in preparation for ratification of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) treaties.
Key among the topics included in the DMCA are provisions concerning the circumvention of copyright protection systems, fair use in a digital environment, and online service provider (OSP) liability (including details on safe harbors, damages, and "notice and takedown" practices). Resources on these and other topics are included below."*
* from Educause Web Site
WARNING: The computing rights of users of the TAMU Network may be terminated if they repeatedly infringe the rights of copyright owners.
Notifying TAMU of an infringement:
The Digital Millennium Copyright Act Guide has specific requirements which must be met in the notification to an Internet Service Provider's agent before the claim of infringement can be considered. These "Elements of Notification" are listed below. Texas A&M University provides a web based form which provides a method for reporting all of the required data. Please use this form to simplify any formal complaint processing.
The Elements of Notification include:
Quoted from Public Law 105-304 (U.S. Code, Title 17, Chapter 5, Section 512)
(A) To be effective under this subsection, a notification of claimed infringement must be a written communication provided to the designated agent of a service provider that includes substantially the following:
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(i) A physical or electronic signature of a person authorized to act on
behalf of the [copyright] owner... (ii) Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed ... (iii) Identification of the material that is claimed to be infringing ... and information reasonably sufficent to permit the service provider to locate the material. (iv) Information reasonably sufficient to permit the service provider to contact the complaining party, such as an address, telephone number, and, if available, an electronic mail address... (v) A statement that the complaining party has a good faith belief that the use of the material in the manner complained of is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law. (vi) A statement that the information in the notification is accurate, and, under penalty of perjury, that the complaining party is authorized to act on behalf of the owner of an exclusive right that is allegedly infringed. |
To present notification of a complaint, you may either email the agent, Jeff McCabe, at j-mccabe@tamu.edu or use the web based form, which will ensure all needed information is provided.
Designated Agent to Receive Notification of Claimed Copyright Infringement:
Jeff McCabe
Telephone:(979) 845-8438
Fax:(979) 845-2074
Email:j-mccabe@tamu.edu
If unable to send notification of claimed Copyright Infringement by email, or web based form, you may send notification by U.S. mail to:
Jeff McCabe
General Services Complex, Rm. 2601
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-3142
More Information on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act
Copyright Basics (PDF document)
Primer On The Digital Millennium
Educause Web Site on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act