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Legislation

President Clinton signs the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

Name: President Clinton signs the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)
Start: 1998-10-28
Location: United States

President Clinton signed the DMCA into law, implementing international WIPO copyright treaties and criminalizing circumvention of digital rights management while creating safe‑harbor protections for online service providers.

The DMCA fundamentally updated U.S. copyright law for the digital era, affecting how content is protected and distributed online and shaping legal debates over DRM, intermediary liability, and fair use.

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Event Details

Date: October 28, 1998
President: Bill Clinton
Category: Legislation
Era: Modern Era

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