House Panel Advances Bill for Copyright Small Claims Tribunal (1)

The House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would create a small-claims tribunal in the Copyright Office for infringement disputes too small to justify a federal lawsuit.

The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (H.R. 2429), approved Sept. 10, would establish the Copyright Claims Board to carry out remote, streamlined procedures in which parties could represent themselves. Damages would be capped at $15,000 per work and $30,000 per case. Accused infringers would have to actively opt out of the process to retain their right to go to federal court.

The measure now heads toward the full House, ...