US Copyright Office Denies Video Game Preservation Exemption

The decision prevents libraries and archives from providing remote access to out-of-print games, impacting preservation efforts.

The Video Game History Foundation and Software Preservation Network's petition for a DMCA exemption was rejected for the fourth time since 2015.
Preservationists argue that 87% of games released before 2010 are critically endangered due to lack of access.
The Entertainment Software Association opposed the exemption, citing potential market harm for legacy game re-releases.
Historians and researchers may need to resort to extra-legal methods to study out-of-print games, as physical access is often impractical.
Advocates plan to continue raising awareness and will have another opportunity to petition for the exemption in 2027.