How does the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) handle small copyright disputes under federal law?

What the Law Says

The CCB was created by the CASE Act (Title II of the Protecting Lawful Streaming Act, enacted December 27, 2020) and codified at 17 U.S.C. §§ 1501–1510. It functions as an administrative tribunal within the U.S. Copyright Office—not a court—and hears only three types of claims: (1) copyright infringement; (2) declaration of noninfringement; and (3) misrepresentation under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f). The CCB lacks subject-matter jurisdiction over claims involving fair use defenses requiring complex factual development, claims against federal or state governments, or matters outside the scope of the Copyright Act. Statutory damages are capped at $15,000 per work and $30,000 total per proceeding (17 U.S.C. § 1504(c)). A respondent may opt out of the CCB process within 60 days of service, reverting the matter to federal district court if litigation proceeds (17 U.S.C. § 1506(d)).

Practical Steps

To initiate a claim, a petitioner must file electronically via the CCB’s portal (copyrightclaims.gov), pay a $100 filing fee (fee waivers available for indigent parties under 17 U.S.C. § 1505(e)), and serve the respondent using CCB-approved methods. All parties must be represented by counsel unless they are pro se natural persons (corporations and other entities must be represented). Discovery is strictly limited: only written questions (interrogatories) and document requests are permitted, with no depositions or motions to compel absent CCB approval. Hearings are conducted remotely, typically via videoconference or written submission, and decisions issue within 120 days of the close of the evidentiary record. Parties may seek reconsideration within 14 days or appeal to the Register of Copyrights solely on grounds of fraud, corruption, misconduct, or lack of jurisdiction—no de novo review is available (17 U.S.C. § 1508).

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