Copyright Claims Board (CCB) — Complete Guide

What the CCB is

The Copyright Claims Board (CCB) is a three-member tribunal established by the CASE Act inside the U.S. Copyright Office. It hears small-value copyright disputes as an alternative to federal court, capped at $30,000 in total damages per proceeding. Proceedings are largely on paper and designed to be usable without a lawyer.

Who qualifies

• Any copyright owner (or licensee with proper authorization) can bring an infringement claim.
• The work must have a completed or pending U.S. Copyright Office registration before a determination can issue.
• The alleged infringement must be within the statute of limitations (generally 3 years).
• The respondent must be reachable for proper service in the United States.

Filing requirements

• Register a CCB eFiling account at ccb.gov.
• Complete the claim form identifying the work, the respondent, and the alleged infringement with specifics.
• Pay the $40 initial filing fee (a second $60 fee is due when the claim becomes active).
• Wait for CCB compliance review, then serve the respondent per CCB instructions.
• Track the 60-day opt-out window.

Filing fees

• $40 initial filing fee.
• $60 second fee when the claim becomes active.
• $100 total — significantly less than the $405+ federal court filing fee.

Registration requirements

You can file with a pending registration, but the CCB cannot issue a determination until registration is completed. Registration is inexpensive and worth completing before or during your claim.

Typical timelines

• Compliance review: a few weeks after filing.
• Service and opt-out window: 60 days after service.
• Discovery and briefing: several months after opt-out window closes.
• Determination: most matters resolve within about a year — much faster than federal court.

Available remedies

• Actual damages plus infringer's profits, OR
• Statutory damages up to $15,000 per work infringed (max $30,000 total per claim) for registered works.
• Statutory damages up to $7,500 per work (max $15,000 total) for works not timely registered.
• Injunctive relief is not available at the CCB.
• Attorney's fees are recoverable only for bad-faith conduct, capped at $5,000.

CCB vs federal court — quick comparison

• Damages cap: CCB $30,000 / federal none.
• Filing fees: CCB $100 / federal ~$405.
• Attorney required: CCB no / federal effectively yes.
• Opt-out: CCB yes / federal no.
• Injunction: CCB no / federal yes.
• Timeline: CCB ~1 year / federal often multiple years.

Read the deep-dive: CCB vs Federal Court.

How to file — step by step

1. 1
   Preserve evidence

   URLs, screen recordings, screenshots, dates, view counts, and ownership records.
2. 2
   Register your work

   Complete or start a U.S. Copyright Office registration.
3. 3
   Create a CCB eFiling account

   Set up your account at ccb.gov.
4. 4
   Draft the claim

   Identify the work, the respondent, and the alleged infringement with specifics.
5. 5
   Pay filing fees and serve

   Pay the $40 initial fee; the $60 second fee is due when the claim becomes active.
6. 6
   Track the opt-out window

   60 days from service.

Complete walkthrough: How to File a CCB Case.

Frequently asked questions