Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU)

The Commission on New Technological Uses of Copyrighted Works (CONTU) was a U.S. government advisory group established in the early 1980s. Its purpose was to study how emerging digital and computer technologies affected copyright law, particularly regarding copying and sharing works. CONTU recommended updates to copyright policies to balance protecting creators’ rights and encouraging technological innovation, including guidelines for fair use and licensing in the digital environment. Its work helped shape legal standards to address the challenges posed by new digital media and copying methods.