library or archives, with respect to works in its collection. Since the DCMA was passed, librarians across the country protested the limited circumvention rights they were afforded. The Association of Research Libraries addressed the problem of preservation head-on, arguing that “preservation is one of a library’s most critical functions... the DMCA is interfering with our ability to preserve these works.” The provisions of Section (VII) would effectively eliminate librarians' problems with preservation of works in a library's collection. Criticism The FAIR USE Act was subject to criticism of both proponents and opponents of DMCA reform. Proponents of DMCA reform critiqued the bill for being "wishy-washy". Despite the included amendments, several of which arose in response to public protest, the Act did not allow for circumvention for ripping personal copies for cross-media consumption (i.e. ripping a DVD for use on a video phone or laptop), which some considered the biggest problem with the DMCA. The bill was also criticized for not maintaining the more strongly worded exemptions enumerated in previous incarnations of DMCA reform legislation, in particular, those regarding the makers and distributors of circumvention technology, which meant that “a film studies professor would be permitted to use software such as Handbrake... However, developing or distributing Handbrake in the United States would still be a crime.” Opponents of the bill focused on problems with the scope and breadth of its language. As with previous Boucher-sponsored bills, the RIAA argued that the bill would “repeal the DMCA and legalize hacking." See also Digital Millennium Copyright Act Digital Media Consumers' Rights Act INDUCE Act Public Domain Enhancement Act PRO-IP Act References External links FAIR USE Act The US Library of Congress page on this bill: The OpenCongress page on this bill: The GovTrack progress on this bill: United States Code Title 17, Chapter 12, § 1201: Title 17, Chapter 12, § 504: Proposed legislation of the 110th United States Congress United States proposed federal intellectual property legislation United States federal copyright legislation Fair use