Editing Reverse engineering vs illegal hacking (section)

==Current DMCA exemptions (2024-2027)==

The Library of Congress granted sweeping new exemptions in October 2024 that greatly expanded repair rights:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/28/2024-24563/exemption-to-prohibition-on-circumvention-of-copyright-protection-systems-for-access-control |title=Exemption to Prohibition on Circumvention of Copyright Protection Systems for Access Control Technologies |publisher=Federal Register |date=October 28, 2024}}</ref>

*'''Vehicle telematics data''': Owners can now circumvent software locks to access, store, and share their vehicle's operations and diagnostic data.
*'''Commercial food preparation equipment''': New exemption for retail-level restaurant equipment repair ''(addressing the McDonald's ice cream machine problem).''<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bowman |first=Emma |date=November 3, 20245:00 AM ET |title=A new copyright rule lets McDonald's fix its own broken ice cream machines |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/11/02/g-s1-31893/mcdonalds-broken-ice-cream-machine-copyright-law |work=NPR}}</ref>
*'''Consumer devices''': Renewed exemptions for smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and IoT devices.
*'''Medical devices''': Continued exemption with FDA support, concluding that, contrary to claims otherwise, it wouldn't "necessarily and materially jeopardize" device safety.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://iamers.org/2024/07/fda-issues-letter-supporting-continuation-of-dmca-exemption-for-repair-of-medical-devices/ |title=FDA issues letter supporting continuation of DMCA exemption for repair of medical devices |publisher=IAMERS |date=July 2024}}</ref>
*'''Jailbreaking''': Expanded to cover smartphones, smart TVs, voice assistants, and routers for installing alternative software.

These exemptions require that circumvention be a ''"necessary step"'' for the permitted purpose and cannot facilitate access to other copyrighted works.