The DMCA prohibits circumventing technological protection measures used by copyright owners to control access to their works. Bypassing a password system to gain unauthorized access to copyright-protected material or services (e.g., a streaming service) is an example.
The DMCA also prohibits making, importing, offering, providing or trafficking in circumvention technologies, products, services, or components.
The DMCA provides some exceptions and authorizes the Register of Copyrights to adopt exemptions from the DMCA’s prohibition against circumvention. The Register of Copyrights has exercised that authority on occasion.