Librarian
In 2020, Congress passed the “Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020,” known as the “CASE Act,” establishing a new chapter in U.S. copyright law. The CASE Act mandated the formation of the Copyright Claims Board (“CCB”), a tribunal operating through the U.S. Copyright Office instead of the federal judicial branch, for the purpose of deciding small copyright disputes via a streamlined, less expensive process. Damages are capped at $30,000 for CCB cases.
This page is for Washington University faculty, staff, students, and scholars who might find themselves in receipt of a notice that a CCB action has been initiated against them. The CCB began accepting cases in June 2022, and material on this page will be updated as necessary. As with all information on the Scholarly Communication and Digital Publishing Services website, we cannot provide you with legal advice. However, we can help you understand how the law works. If you have further questions, contact us at digital@wumail.wustl.edu.
The Copyright Claims Board Explained (YouTube)
Further Reading
- The Copyright Claims Board: Good News or Bad News for Communication Scholars?The U.S. Copyright Claims Board (CCB), created in 2020 by the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act, creates a nonjudicial administrative venue to resolve copyright infringement claims up to $30,000. Supporters claim it will help “little guy” creators protect their work. Detractors claim that it will increase corporate intimidation and copyright trolling. We surveyed communication and Internet scholars to assess appetite for risk when challenged for an appropriate fair use and legally permitted reuse of copyrighted material. We found that the CCB does not serve its stated purpose because of scholars’ fear of legal entanglements. Nor will it offer scholars a way to protect copyrighted work because well-informed defendants are most likely to opt out of the venue. We believe the actions of the nascent CCB deserve scrutiny from communication and Internet scholars particularly because the Copyright Office must report to Congress on its effectiveness after three years.