How to File a Copyright Claims Board (CCB) Case

The Copyright Claims Board (CCB) is a small-claims-style tribunal inside the U.S. Copyright Office. It's designed to be used without a lawyer, and damages are capped at $30,000. Here's how to file a claim.

Before you file

• Confirm the work is copyrighted (registration is not required to file, but must be at least applied-for and completed before the claim can be adjudicated).
• Preserve evidence: URLs, screen recordings, screenshots, dates, and view counts.
• Confirm you're within the statute of limitations (generally 3 years from when you knew or should have known).

Filing steps

1. 1
   Create a CCB eFiling account

   Register at ccb.gov's eFiling portal.
2. 2
   Complete the claim form

   Identify the work, the respondent, and the alleged infringement with specifics.
3. 3
   Pay the initial filing fee

   $40 initial fee; a second $60 fee is due when the claim becomes active.
4. 4
   Wait for compliance review

   CCB staff review the claim for procedural compliance before service.
5. 5
   Serve the respondent

   After compliance approval, the respondent must be formally served. CCB provides instructions.
6. 6
   Respondent's opt-out window

   The respondent has 60 days to opt out of CCB proceedings. If they opt out, your claim ends there (though you can still file in federal court).

After filing

If the respondent doesn't opt out, the case proceeds to scheduling, discovery, briefing, and a hearing. Most CCB proceedings are handled on paper without in-person appearances. Final determinations are binding, with limited grounds for review.