Copyright Claims Board Officially Opens to Hear Claims
The Library of Congress and United States Copyright Office today announced that the Copyright Claims Board is officially open and available to hear certain copyright disputes involving claims of up to $30,000.
As of today, parties can file claims, opt out of a proceeding, reference Copyright Claims Board Handbook materials and contact the board with questions. Eligible claims include copyright infringement, noninfringement, or misrepresentations in notices or counter-notices under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The first copyright small claims tribunal in the United States, the Copyright Claims Board is a voluntary, alternative forum to the federal courts, staffed by copyright experts using streamlined, affordable procedures.
“The CASE Act and the establishment of the Copyright Claims Board is evidence of the great trust that Congress puts in the U.S. Copyright Office to serve as impartial experts in copyright law,” said Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden. “A lot of hard work has gone into setting up the Copyright Claims Board, and it is exciting to be able to announce that the board is open for business.”
In 2020, Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act to establish the Copyright Claims Board and assist creators and users of copyright-protected works to more easily resolve their disputes. In April 2022, the Copyright Office launched ccb.gov, a central hub of information featuring resources for potential claimants and respondents and board rulemakings. The Office also launched the Library and Archives Opt-Out List and the board’s Designated Service Agent Directory. Libraries and archives may continue to submit preemptive opt-outs and businesses may continue to designate a representative to receive claims on their behalf.
Visit ccb.gov and subscribe to CASE Act email notifications for more information on the CCB.
The Copyright Office is the principal federal entity charged by statute with the administration of the U.S. copyright law. Among other statutory duties, the Register oversees the copyright registration and recordation systems of the United States, manages statutory royalty fees totaling more than a billion dollars annually, advises Congress on domestic and international copyright policy issues, and provides support on copyright matters to courts and executive branch agencies.
The Library of Congress is the world’s largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world — both on-site and online. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs and plan a visit at loc.gov, access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
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Press Contact: Bill Ryan, wryan@loc.gov
Public Contact: George Thuronyi, gthu@copyright.gov
PR 22-054
06-16-2022
ISSN 0731-3527