Proposed Rule2021-20303
Copyright Claims Board: Initiation of Proceedings and Related Procedures
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 29, 2021
Effective
October 29, 2021
Issuing agencies
Library of CongressCopyright Office, Library of Congress
Abstract
The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking to establish procedures governing the initial stages of a proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board. The proposed rule provides requirements regarding the filing of a claim, the Board's compliance review of the claim, service, issuance of notice of the claim, the respondent's opt-out election, responses, and counterclaims. The Office intends to initiate subsequent rulemakings regarding additional procedures.
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 29, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53897-53913]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20303]
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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Copyright Office
37 CFR Parts 201, 220, 222, 223, and 224
[Docket No. 2021-6]
Copyright Claims Board: Initiation of Proceedings and Related
Procedures
AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing a notice of proposed
rulemaking to establish procedures governing the initial stages of a
proceeding before the Copyright Claims Board. The proposed rule
provides requirements regarding the filing of a claim, the Board's
compliance review of the claim, service, issuance of notice of the
claim, the respondent's opt-out election, responses, and counterclaims.
The Office intends to initiate subsequent rulemakings regarding
additional procedures.
DATES: Initial written comments must be received no later than 11:59
p.m. Eastern Time on October 29, 2021. Written reply comments must be
received no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on November 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: For reasons of government efficiency, the Copyright Office
is using the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> system for the submission and posting of
public comments in this proceeding. All comments are therefore to be
submitted electronically through <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Specific instructions
for submitting comments are available on the Copyright Office website
at <a href="http://copyright.gov/rulemaking/case-act-implementation/initiating-proceedings/">http://copyright.gov/rulemaking/case-act-implementation/initiating-proceedings/</a>. If electronic submission of comments is not feasible due
to lack of access to a computer and/or the internet, please contact the
Office using the contact information below for special instructions.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin R. Amer, Acting General Counsel
and Associate Register of Copyrights, by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#573c363a3225173438272e253e303f2379303821"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4f242e222a3d0f2c203f363d2628273b61282039">[email protected]</span></a>,
or Whitney Levandusky, Supervisory Attorney-Advisor, by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9ee9f2fbe8defdf1eee7ecf7f9f6eab0f9f1e8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="82f5eee7f4c2e1edf2fbf0ebe5eaf6ace5edf4">[email protected]</span></a>. Both can be reached by telephone at 202-707-8350.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Copyright
Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (``CASE'') Act of 2020.\1\ The
CASE Act directs the Copyright Office to establish the Copyright Claims
Board (``CCB'' or ``Board''), a voluntary, alternative forum to federal
court for parties to seek resolution of copyright disputes that have a
low economic value (``small copyright claims'').\2\ The CCB's creation
does not displace or limit a party's ability to bring small copyright
claims in federal court, but rather provides a more accessible
alternative forum to decide those claims.\3\ The CCB has authority to
hear copyright infringement claims, claims seeking a declaration of
noninfringement, and misrepresentation claims under section 512(f) of
title 17.\4\ Participation in the CCB is voluntary for all parties,\5\
and all determinations are non-precedential.\6\ On March 26, 2021, the
Copyright Office published a notification of inquiry (``NOI'') inviting
public comment on various aspects of the CCB's operations, which the
Office noted would be established through a series of rulemakings.\7\
Congress directed that the CCB begin operations by December 27, 2021,
though the Register may for good cause extend that deadline by not more
than 180 days.\8\
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\1\ Public Law 116-260, sec. 212, 134 Stat. 1182, 2176 (2020).
\2\ See, e.g., H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 18-20 (2019); S. Rep.
No. 116-105, at 7-8 (2019). Note, the CASE Act legislative history
cited is for H.R. 2426 and S. 1273, the CASE Act of 2019, a bill
nearly identical to the CASE Act of 2020. See H.R. 2426, 116th Cong.
(2019); S. 1273, 116th Cong. (2019). In developing the CASE Act,
Congress drew on model legislation in the Office's 2013 policy
report, Copyright Small Claims, <a href="https://www.copyright.gov/docs/smallclaims/usco-smallcopyrightclaims.pdf">https://www.copyright.gov/docs/smallclaims/usco-smallcopyrightclaims.pdf</a>. Congress also
incorporated the Office's report and supporting materials into the
statute's legislative history. H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 19; S. Rep.
No. 116-105, at 2.
\3\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17; S. Rep. No. 116-105, at 2-3,
9.
\4\ 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(1)-(3). The CCB cannot issue injunctive
relief, but can require that an infringing party cease or mitigate
its infringing activity in the event such party agrees and the
agreement is reflected in the proceeding's record. Id. at
1504(e)(2)(A)(i), (e)(2)(B). This provision also applies to parties
making knowing material misrepresentations under section 512(f). Id.
at 1504(e)(2)(A)(ii).
\5\ See id. at 1504(a); H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17, 21; S.
Rep. No. 116-105, at 3, 11.
\6\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 21-22, 33; S. Rep. No. 116-105, at
14.
\7\ 86 FR 16156 (Mar. 26, 2021). Comments received in response
to the March 26, 2021 NOI are available at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov/document/COLC-2021-0001-0001/comment">https://www.regulations.gov/document/COLC-2021-0001-0001/comment</a>. References
to these comments are by party name (abbreviated where appropriate),
followed by ``Initial NOI Comments'' or ``Reply NOI Comments,'' as
appropriate.
\8\ Public Law 116-260, sec. 212(d), 134 Stat. at 2199.
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The CASE Act directs the Register of Copyrights to establish the
regulations by which the CCB will conduct its proceedings, subject to
the provisions of chapter 15 and relevant principles of law under title
17.\9\ In this notice, the Office proposes procedures related to the
filing of a claim, the CCB's subsequent review of the claim to ensure
that it complies with statutory requirements and the Office's
regulations (referred to in this rulemaking as the CCB's ``compliance
review''), service, issuance of notice of the claim, the respondent's
opt-out election, responses, and counterclaims. The Office will issue
proposed rules
[[Page 53898]]
related to later stages of a proceeding in subsequent rulemakings.
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\9\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(a)(1).
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A. Initiating a Claim
To initiate a proceeding before the CCB, a claimant shall,
``subject to such additional requirements as may be prescribed in
regulations established by the Register of Copyrights,'' file a claim
that ``(1) includes a statement of material facts in support of the
claim; (2) is certified under [17 U.S.C. 1506(y)(1)]; and (3) is
accompanied by a filing fee in such amount as may be prescribed in
regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.'' \10\ The
legislative history states that the Office should establish a process
that is ``accessible especially for pro se parties and those with
little prior formal exposure to copyright laws.'' \11\
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\10\ Id. at 1506(e).
\11\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17; see also S. Rep. No. 116-105,
at 9-10.
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Parties provided comments on several matters relating to the
contents of a claim. Commenters emphasized the need for plain
language,\12\ suggested that the forms should be available, at a
minimum, in English and Spanish,\13\ and encouraged the use of fillable
forms.\14\ The Office agrees with these suggestions, and intends to use
plain-language fillable forms throughout various stages of CCB
proceedings, including for the filing of a claim.
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\12\ Sen. Dick Durbin, Sen. John Kennedy & Rep. Hakeem Jeffries
Initial NOI Comments at 1 (stating that CCB forms should be ``user-
friendly, with simplified forms and guidance provided in such a way
that parties will not feel compelled to hire an attorney to
understand and assist them with the process'') (emphasis omitted);
Am. Bar Ass'n Intell. Prop. L. Sec. (``ABA-IPL'') Reply NOI Comments
at 2; Patreon Initial NOI Comments at 2.
\13\ Am. Intell. Prop. L. Ass'n (``AIPLA'') Initial NOI Comments
at 2; Copyright Alliance, Am. Photographic Artists, Am. Soc'y for
Collective Rights Licensing, Am. Soc'y of Media Photographers, The
Authors Guild, CreativeFuture, Digital Media Licensing Ass'n,
Graphic Artists Guild, Indep. Book Pubs. Ass'n, Music Creators N.
Am., Nat'l Music Council of the United States, Nat'l Press
Photographers Ass'n, N. Am. Nature Photography Ass'n, Prof.
Photographers of Am., Recording Academy, Screen Actors Guild-Am.
Fed. of Television and Radio Artists, Soc'y of Composers &
Lyricists, Songwriters Guild of Am. & Songwriters of N. Am.
(``Copyright Alliance, et al.'') Initial NOI Comments at 10; Engine
Initial NOI Comments at 3; Niskanen Center Initial NOI Comments at
2.
\14\ Copyright Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 11;
Coalition of Visual Artists Initial NOI Comments at 5-8; ABA-IPL
Reply NOI Comments at 2.
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The Office proposes that to initiate a proceeding, a claimant must:
First, complete a claim form provided by the CCB; second, complete an
initial notice form, also provided by the CCB; and, finally, submit the
completed forms and required filing fee through the Board's electronic
filing and document management system. A claimant who is unable to use
the electronic filing and document management system may initiate a
proceeding by using printed forms and alternative submission
instructions. In addition to the statutory requirements to submit the
claim and filing fee to the CCB, the Office is proposing that the
claimant be required to submit a completed initial notice form with the
claim form. This proposal allows a Copyright Claims Attorney to review
the initial notice and address any issues during compliance review, and
issue the signed notice under Copyright Office seal upon approving the
claim.\15\
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\15\ The Office has modeled the procedures governing issuance of
the initial notice on those pertaining to issuance of a summons
under Rule 4 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. See H.R. Rep.
No. 116-252 at 22.
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The proposed rule sets forth the required information for the claim
form. It generally requires the claimant to identify the parties, the
claim asserted under section 1504(c), and the harms experienced as a
result of the dispute subject to the proceeding. Then, the claimant
must identify certain facts relevant to the claim and provide a
statement describing the dispute in more detail. The claimant will be
asked to be as detailed as possible, but, as contemplated by Congress,
the CCB will ``construe liberally'' any information in the claim to
satisfy regulatory requirements during claim review.\16\
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\16\ Id.
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The Office received one substantive comment arguing that the claim
should require more than is required by notice pleading as set forth in
the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.\17\ Such a heightened pleading
standard, however, would go against congressional intent. The
legislative history explains that ``many of the terms and processes
used in the [CASE] Act are drawn from preexisting, related state and
federal statutory language, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and
established case law,'' and emphasizes that the CCB is intended to be
``an efficient, effective, and voluntary alternative'' to
litigation.\18\ As a general rule, therefore, practice before the CCB
should be less complex than practice in the federal courts, and
certainly not more complex. Further, to the extent there are statements
in the claim that clearly do not state facts upon which relief can be
granted, the CCB anticipates that the compliance review process
typically will resolve such issues. Finally, the claimant must certify
that the information provided in the claim form is ``accura[te] and
truthful[ ]'' \19\ to the best of the certifying party's knowledge.
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\17\ Google Initial NOI Comments at 1 (referring to Federal Rule
of Civil Procedure 12).
\18\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 23.
\19\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(y).
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The proposed rule also allows optional documentation to be attached
to the claim form, including copies of the works involved. While some
commenters suggested that additional documentation should be a
requirement for filing a claim and serving notice,\20\ the Office
believes that requiring such information at the initial claim stage
would discourage claimants from initiating a proceeding and would be
more burdensome than the requirements for litigation in the federal
courts. Documentary evidence will be a focus of the standard requests
for production that the Office will propose in a future rulemaking
addressing discovery.
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\20\ See, e.g., Ben Vient Initial NOI Comments at 2; Copyright
Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 13; Univ. of Mich. Library
Initial NOI Comments at 1.
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The proposed rule does not address matters relating to the layout
or presentation of questions on the form, as the Office seeks to
preserve the flexibility to adjust those items as circumstances
warrant. The Office intends to make proposed forms available in advance
of the CCB's commencement of operations.
B. Review of the Claim by Officers and Attorneys
1. Compliance Review
After the claimant files a claim, the claim ``shall be reviewed by
a Copyright Claims Attorney to ensure that the claim complies with
[chapter 15] and applicable regulations.'' \21\ If the claimant is
proceeding ``pro se,'' i.e., they are not represented by an attorney,
the claim and assertions are to be ``construed liberally in favor of
adjudicating applicable claims and defenses.'' \22\
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\21\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(f)(1).
\22\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 22.
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If the claim is found to comply with the statute and regulations,
the CCB shall notify the claimant and provide instructions to proceed
with service of the claim.\23\ If the claim is found not to comply, the
CCB is required to provide the claimant with a notice of deficiency and
an opportunity to file an amended claim within 30 days after receiving
the notice.\24\ The amended claim is then reviewed, and the claimant is
either notified of the sufficiency of the claim or directed to file an
additional amended complaint in that 30-day period. This second amended
complaint is reviewed a final time, with the CCB
[[Page 53899]]
either clearing the claim for service or, upon confirmation of
noncompliance by a Copyright Claims Officer, dismissing the claim
without prejudice. The CCB shall also dismiss without prejudice any
proceeding in which the claimant fails to file an amended complaint
within the 30-day window. Counterclaims are subject to the same
compliance review.\25\
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\23\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(f)(1)(A).
\24\ Id. at 1506(f)(1)(B).
\25\ Id. at 1506(f)(2).
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The statute describes the compliance review process in some detail.
Here, the Office proposes a limited number of regulations to clarify
the scope of review. The proposed rule provides that a Copyright Claims
Attorney shall review a claim to determine whether the allegations
``clearly do not state a claim upon which relief can be granted.'' This
standard echoes the standard set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure,\26\ but is meant to be less exacting than that governing a
motion to dismiss. The Office believes that this approach is in the
best interest of all parties: The claimant has the opportunity to state
its case; the respondent has a better understanding of the allegations
involved in the claim and will be in a stronger position to consider
participation; and the CCB will avoid the administrative burden
associated with hearing overbroad or clearly implausible claims. The
Office is also proposing to incorporate an examination standard from
the Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office Practices, which stipulates
that while the Office does not conduct factual investigations, it may
take administrative notice of facts generally known as established and
may use that knowledge during compliance review.\27\ Finally, as
suggested by one commenter,\28\ the proposed rule clarifies that the
CCB's clearance of a claim for notice is not an endorsement of the
facts and statements asserted in the claim.
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\26\ Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6).
\27\ U.S. Copyright Office, Compendium of U.S. Copyright Office
Practices, Third Edition sec. 602.4(C) (3d ed. 2021).
\28\ Elec. Frontier Found. (``EFF'') Initial NOI Comments at 2.
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2. Dismissal for Unsuitability
Under the statute, the CCB must dismiss a claim or counterclaim
without prejudice if it ``concludes that the claim or counterclaim is
unsuitable for determination . . . including on account of any of the
following . . . [t]he failure to join a necessary party; . . . [t]he
lack of an essential witness, evidence, or expert testimony; [or] [t]he
determination of a relevant issue of law or fact that could exceed
either the number of proceedings the [CCB] could reasonably administer
or the subject matter competence of the [CCB].'' \29\ The issue of
unsuitability may be taken up by the Board at any time during the
proceedings, whether during compliance review or thereafter.\30\
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\29\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(f)(3).
\30\ Id.
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The Office did receive suggestions as to particular claims that
should be considered unsuitable.\31\ At this time, however, the
proposed regulation addresses only the procedural matter of how the
issue of unsuitability will be addressed. The Office proposes that the
issue of unsuitability may be raised by the Board or by any party to
the proceeding. Upon consideration of the matter, the Board may issue
an order dismissing the claim without prejudice, after which the
claimant has an opportunity to request reconsideration and the
respondent has an opportunity to respond. In proposing this approach,
the Office seeks to strike an appropriate balance between maximizing
parties' opportunity to be heard and preserving the Board's authority
to dismiss claims that it determines to be unsuitable for
determination.
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\31\ See, e.g., EFF Initial NOI Comments at 3.
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C. Service of Initial Notice
Once the claimant receives notification that the claim is
compliant, the claimant must, not later than ninety days from receiving
notification, file with the CCB proof of service on the respondent in
order to proceed with the claim.\32\ To effectuate service, the
claimant ``shall cause notice of the proceeding and a copy of the claim
to be served on the respondent'' \33\ as prescribed by the statute and
regulations.
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\32\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(g).
\33\ Id.
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1. Content of Initial Notice
To ensure that respondents are provided with proper notice of the
claims asserted against them, the statute details elements that must be
included in the initial notice accompanying the claim. In addition, the
Office is required to create a prescribed initial notice form and is
vested with regulatory authority to specify further requirements to be
included in the notice.
At a minimum, the initial notice must describe the CCB and the
nature of a CCB proceeding, so that pro se parties understand the
process.\34\ The initial notice must include ``a clear and prominent
explanation of the respondent's right to opt out of the proceeding and
the rights the respondent waives if [they] do [ ] not.'' \35\ In
particular, it must include a prominent statement that by not opting
out of a CCB proceeding within sixty days of receiving the notice, the
respondent ``loses the opportunity to have the dispute decided by a
court created under article III of the Constitution of the United
States'' and ``waives the right to a jury trial regarding the
dispute.'' \36\
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\34\ Id. at 1506(g)(1).
\35\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 22; see also 17 U.S.C.
1506(g)(1).
\36\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(1).
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In the NOI, the Office requested comment on ``additional regulatory
requirements to help ensure that the initial notice conveys a clear
explanation of the CCB, deadlines associated with the pending claim,
the ability and method for the respondent to opt out of the proceeding,
and the benefits and consequences of participating or declining to do
so.'' \37\ The Office provided examples of various approaches by
federal and state courts,\38\ and invited parties to provide specific
language to be included on the form or sample forms.\39\ The Office
asked whether the notice should include a docket number and links to
the CCB's website for relevant public information, and encouraged
parties to suggest additional educational information ``while being
mindful that the notice must remain easy to understand and avoid
overwhelming respondents.'' \40\
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\37\ 86 FR at 16159.
\38\ Admin. Off. of the U.S. Cts., Summons in a Civil Action
(June 2012), <a href="https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/ao440.pdf">https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/ao440.pdf</a>
(form AO 440); Clerk for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Summons
(Dec. 2020), <a href="http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms/pdf_files/CCG0001.pdf">http://www.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org/Forms/pdf_files/CCG0001.pdf</a> (form CCG 0001 A) (as of Sept. 14, 2021, Cook County
Clerk of Court website was inaccessible); New Jersey Courts, Small
Claims Summons and Return of Service (Sept. 2018), <a href="https://njcourts.gov/forms/10534_appendix_xi_a2.pdf">https://njcourts.gov/forms/10534_appendix_xi_a2.pdf</a>.
\39\ 86 FR at 16159.
\40\ Id.
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In response, commenters suggested a number of additional features
to be included. Some proposed that the notice include not only
information such as the respondent's name, phone number, address, email
address, and other contact information, but also information about the
claim itself and background information about the CCB.\41\ Others
suggested that the notice
[[Page 53900]]
include explanations of copyright law,\42\ fair use,\43\ and other
defenses.\44\ Multiple commenters argued that the notice should not
include elements of infringement or defenses, but should simply state
that there are defenses available and include a link to the Copyright
Office web page with information about fair use and other defenses that
would be typically raised.\45\ Many agreed that the notice should
address the pros and cons of opting out, with several noting that the
Board should do so clearly, concisely, and in a disinterested way.\46\
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\41\ Copyright Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 11.
However, the same comment observed that the notice ``should provide
only the essential information about the process because providing
too much information could overwhelm the Respondent.'' Id. at 12.
Another commenter suggested that the notice include the ``legal name
of the Plaintiff, a physical address, and a telephone number by
which a live person can be called by the Respondent during normal
business hours to discuss the claim.'' Ryan Fountain Initial NOI
Comments at 1.
\42\ Anthony Davis Jr. & Katherine Luce Initial NOI Comments at
2.
\43\ Patreon Initial NOI Comments at 3.
\44\ Copyright Alliance Initial NOI Comments at 11.
\45\ See, e.g., AIPLA Initial NOI Comments at 2; Copyright
Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 18.
\46\ See, e.g., Public Knowledge, Re:Create, Ctr. for Democracy
& Tech., R St. Inst., Org. for Transformative Works (``Public
Knowledge, et al.'') Initial NOI Comments at 14 (``The notice
language needs to describe the opt-out process clearly, concisely,
and in a manner that is comprehensible to a lay audience.''); Google
Initial NOI Comments at 1 (``To the extent that the Office intends
to give respondents information on the possible consequences of
opting out, it will be important to communicate the associated
uncertainty in a clear and disinterested way.''); Authors Alliance
Initial NOI Comments at 3 (asserting among other things that ``the
notice should also describe situations for which the tribunal may
not be a suitable venue for dispute resolution'').
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The Office appreciates parties' comments on this issue and proposes
that the initial notice to the respondent be provided in a form that
includes the information required by the statute as well as additional
basic information about the claim and the parties. The Office envisions
a notice that, as is the case with summonses issued by federal courts,
is clear and concise and is easy to understand. The Office also
envisions that the notice will bear the Office's seal, the CCB's logo,
and other indicia to identify it as an official document issued by the
federal government.
The Office received a number of suggestions related to substantive
claim information that should be attached to the notice, including
evidence of infringement \47\ and a picture of the allegedly infringing
work.\48\ The Office believes that for efficiency and clarity,
substantive information should be included in or attached to the claim,
which sets forth the facts at issue, rather than the notice, which sets
forth the procedural implications of the claim. The initial notice is
similar to a summons, and with a few exceptions (such as the caption,
docket number, and names and addresses of the parties), every notice
issued by the Board will be identical. And, for the reasons stated
above, the Office has included documentary evidence as an optional
attachment to the claim rather than a requirement.
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\47\ Ben Vient Initial NOI Comments at 2.
\48\ Computer & Comms's Indus. Assoc. & internet Assoc. (``CCIA
& IA'') Initial NOI Comments at 3.
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The proposed rule prescribes that claimants use an initial notice
form provided by the Board, with most of the content prepared by the
Board for use in all initial notices. Claimants will fill in certain
information, such as the names, addresses, and contact information for
the claimant and the respondent. The rule does not require that the
claimant provide a telephone number or email address in the initial
notice. Although the Office recognizes the benefits of providing means
through which the parties may communicate to discuss the merits of a
claim and to discuss settlement, the Office also recognizes that such
information might implicate privacy or other interests. The Office
invites comments on this proposed approach.
In addition to basic information about the parties, the notice form
would require the claimant to identify the nature of the claims being
asserted--i.e., whether the claim is for copyright infringement, a
declaration of noninfringement, or misrepresentation in connection with
a notification or a counter notification served on an online service
provider under section 512 of title 17.
The notice would also include the information required by 17 U.S.C.
1506, including a brief description of the CCB and its proceedings, a
statement advising the respondent of the right to opt out of the
proceeding, how to opt out, and the consequences of doing so (including
the statements required by 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(1)(A) and (B)). It is the
Office's intention that the latter statement be concise, clear, and
objective.
The notice will also direct the respondent (as well as the
claimant) to further information that will be made available on the
Office or CCB websites pertaining to copyright law, including exclusive
rights, infringement, and exceptions and limitations, as well as
further information on CCB proceedings. Information will be provided on
how to access the Board's electronic filing and document management
system, which will also give respondents a means to confirm that the
notice relates to a genuine legal proceeding.
2. Service of Process and Designated Agents
Under the statute, any individual who is not a party to the
proceeding and is older than 18 years of age may effectuate
service,\49\ and both service and waiver of service may only occur
within the United States.\50\ Choosing how to effectuate service,
however, depends on the nature of the respondent. The statute includes
separate rules of service for individuals and corporations,
partnerships, and unincorporated associations, including those
organizations using designated service agents.\51\ No claims can be
brought ``by or against a Federal or State governmental entity.'' \52\
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\49\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(3).
\50\ Id. at 1506(g)(9).
\51\ Id. at 1506(g)(4)-(5).
\52\ Id. at 1504(d)(3).
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Service on an individual \53\ may be effectuated by using
procedures analogous to those in the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure.\54\ Service can be accomplished by ``complying with State
law for serving a summons in an action brought in courts of general
jurisdiction in the State where service is made.'' \55\ Service can
also be accomplished by ``leaving a copy of the notice and claim at the
individual's dwelling or usual place of abode with someone of suitable
age and discretion who resides there.'' \56\ Finally, service on an
individual can be accomplished by ``delivering a copy of the notice and
claim to an agent designated by the respondent to receive service of
process or, if not so designated, an agent authorized by appointment or
by law to receive service of process.'' \57\
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\53\ For a minor or an incompetent individual, service can be
effectuated only by ``complying with State law for serving a summons
or like process on such an individual in an action brought in the
courts of general jurisdiction of the State where service is made.''
Id. at 1506(g)(8); see also id. at 1506(g)(4).
\54\ See Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(e).
\55\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(4)(A).
\56\ Id. at 1506(g)(4)(C).
\57\ Id. at 1506(g)(4)(D).
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Like individuals, corporations, partnerships, or unincorporated
associations can be served ``by complying with State law for serving a
summons in an action brought in courts of general jurisdiction in the
State where service is made.'' \58\ These organizations can also be
served by delivering the notice and claim to ``an officer, a managing
or general agent, or any other agent authorized by appointment or by
law to receive service of process in an action brought in courts of
general jurisdiction in the State
[[Page 53901]]
where service is made.'' \59\ Under the statute, such corporations,
partnerships, or unincorporated associations may elect to receive CCB
claim notices via a designated service agent. The Office is required to
establish regulations governing this designated service agent option
and to ``maintain a current directory of service agents that is
available to the public for inspection, including through the
internet.'' \60\ The Office may charge these organizations a fee to
maintain the designated service agent directory.\61\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\58\ Id. at 1506(g)(5)(A)(i).
\59\ Id. at 1506(g)(5)(A)(ii). If the service agent is ``one
authorized by statute and the statute so requires,'' the claimant
must also mail a copy of the notice and claim to the respondent. Id.
\60\ Id. at 1506(g)(5)(B).
\61\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the NOI, the Office requested comments specifically related to
the designated service agent directory. The Office encouraged
commenting parties to review the Office's designated agent directory
for online service providers, created pursuant to the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act (``DMCA''), and to discuss to what extent the
Office should use the DMCA database as a model.\62\ The Office also
invited comments on how the system should indicate corporate parent-
subsidiary relationships, and on fees. In addition, the Office noted
its general authority to establish additional regulations governing
service throughout a CCB proceeding,\63\ and requested comment on any
issues that should be considered related to that authority.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\62\ 86 FR at 16160.
\63\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(j).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office received a number of comments regarding the ability of a
corporate parent to act as a designated agent on behalf of a
subsidiary. The majority of commenters who addressed the issue
encouraged the designation of one agent for the corporate parent and
all subsidiary firms.\64\ Commenters also recommended that service
agents be able to choose their method of service,\65\ and some argued
that after an eligible entity has designated a service agent, the only
effective means of service that should be allowed is through the
identified service agent in the database.\66\ The Office appreciates
these comments and finds them to be generally consistent with the
statutory text. The proposed rule allows a submitter to provide the
same designated agent information for multiple companies, partnerships,
or unincorporated associations, but a separate submission would be
required for each entity. A designated agent submission is required to
include identifying information for the business, including contact
information, principal place of business, and for corporations, the
state of incorporation, any associated state file or registration
number, and all other states in which the corporation is registered to
do business. Organizations may also list up to five alternate names
under which they are doing business, i.e., trade names. The names
provided will be used for indexing the designation, and the business
contact information will not be on public view.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\64\ Amazon Initial NOI Comments at 3; CCIA & IA Initial NOI
Comments at 3; Google Initial NOI Comments at 1.
\65\ Amazon Initial NOI Comments at 3; Google Initial NOI
Comments at 1-2.
\66\ Motion Picture Ass'n, Recording Indus. Ass'n of Am. &
Software and Info. Ass'n of Am. (``MPA, RIAA & SIIA'') Initial NOI
Comments at 5; Verizon Initial NOI Comments at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The submission must also include contact information for the
service agent and the designating entity's consent to service by mail.
An entity submitting a designation may also elect to accept service by
email in addition to mail. In such cases, the email address of the
designated service agent will be included in the public directory.
Although some parties suggested that the Office should require
periodic renewal of the designated agent listing,\67\ the Office has
not included such a requirement in the proposed rule. It is true that,
in the context of the designated agent databases for online service
providers under the DMCA, the Office implemented a renewal requirement
to ``encourage effective compliance with the requirements of [17
U.S.C.] 512(c)(2).'' \68\ That provision reflects the statutory
requirement that a service provider must designate an agent with the
Copyright Office to be eligible for statutory safe harbor
provisions.\69\ Here, designating a service agent is not a statutory
requirement for service on a corporation, partnership, or
unincorporated association, but an administrative convenience.\70\ In
addition, the claimant may effectuate service by alternative means.
While the Office accepts the possibility that corporations,
partnerships, or unincorporated associations may not keep current their
designations, service on the agent who is designated in the directory
shall be valid unless the designating entity cancels or amends the
designation. The Office believes that this should offer sufficient
incentive to parties to keep their designations current.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\67\ Copyright Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 15-16.
\68\ 81 FR 75695, 75698 (Nov. 1, 2016).
\69\ 17 U.S.C. 512(c)(2) (``The limitations on liability
established in this subsection apply . . . only if the service
provider has designated an agent to receive notification of claimed
infringement . . . and by providing [the following information] to
the Copyright Office . . . .'').
\70\ Id. at 1506(g)(5)(B) (``A corporation, partnership, or
unincorporated association . . . may elect to designate a service
agent to receive notice of a claim against it.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the proposed rule provides that if the CCB determines that
a designation does not qualify, or if it has reason to believe the
submitter does not have authority to make the designation, CCB staff
will notify the submitter that the designation will be removed. The
submitter will then have ten days to respond. If the submitter does not
respond, or the CCB determines that the response is insufficient, the
entry will be removed from the directory.
The proposed rule also provides requirements for service of
materials filed after the initial notice and claim. The proposed rule
has a general requirement for service through the CCB's electronic
filing management system or by other means of electronic service, and
establishes such service methods as the default. Unrepresented parties,
however, may be excused from electronic service and instead receive
service by mail or in-person delivery. The same structure is proposed
for filing documents beyond the initial notice and claim: parties who
are excused from using the electronic filing and document management
system may file documents by email, mail, hand delivery, or courier
delivery.
D. Waiver of Service
As an alternative to serving notice of the claim on a respondent,
the statute allows the claimant to request waiver of service. The
claimant must send the request for waiver of service to the respondent
``by first class mail or by other reasonable means,'' and return of the
acceptance of waiver must be at no cost to the respondent.\71\ The
claimant's waiver request must be in writing, include a notice of the
proceeding and a copy of the claim, state the date the request was
sent, and provide the respondent thirty days to respond.\72\ The
personal service waiver, if accepted by respondent, does not constitute
a waiver of the respondent's right to opt out of the proceeding.\73\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\71\ Id. at 1506(g)(6).
\72\ Id. at 1506(g)(6)(A)-(B).
\73\ Id. at 1506(g)(7)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office received one comment specifically addressing waiver,
expressing concern regarding the use of ``intimidating or misleading
language.'' \74\ The Office intends to
[[Page 53902]]
require a standard form provided by the CCB for requesting waiver of
service. The form will provide the basic information regarding the
proceeding, clarify that the form is not a formal service of summons
and does not waive the respondent's right to opt out of the proceeding,
and describe the effect of agreeing or declining to waive service. The
claimant can request waiver by mailing the request, claim, initial
notice, and envelope with postage prepaid to the respondent. The
respondent will have thirty days from the date the request is sent to
waive service, and may return the signed waiver form by mail or by
email, if the claimant includes an email address in the request. If the
respondent accepts waiver of service, and further does not opt out,
respondent will have an additional thirty days to file a response
beyond the time for response typically set by the CCB. If the
respondent does not waive service, the claimant must complete service
with sufficient time to file the proof of service with the CCB.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\74\ Engine Initial NOI Comments at 4.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
E. Second Notice
In addition to the notice served by the claimant on the respondent,
the CCB is required to issue a second notice to the respondent if the
respondent has not already opted out or filed a response. The statute
requires that the Register promulgate regulations ``providing for a
written notification to be sent by, or on behalf of, the Copyright
Claims Board to notify the respondent of a pending proceeding.'' \75\
Similar to the claimant's initial notice, this notice must ``include
information concerning the respondent's right to opt out of the
proceeding, the consequences of opting out and not opting out, and a
prominent statement that, by not opting out within 60 days after the
date of service . . . the respondent loses the opportunity to have the
dispute decided by a court created under article III of the
Constitution of the United States'' and ``waives the right to a jury
trial regarding the dispute.'' \76\ This second notice supplements the
initial notice served by the claimant and is intended to facilitate
understanding of the official nature of the documents and proceeding,
encourage a respondent to review the materials, and overall, increase
the likelihood that a respondent engages with the asserted claim and
knowingly elects to proceed or opt out of the CCB proceeding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\75\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(h).
\76\ Id. at 1506(h)(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In the NOI, the Office sought comment on the second notice,
including ``its content and how to ensure that recipients understand
that it is an official Federal Government notification.'' \77\ The
Office also requested input on the method of service--specifically,
whether the second notice should be sent ``by or on behalf of'' the
CCB, whether the second notice should be posted to the online filing
system or delivered by mail or email, and how delivery should be
documented.\78\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\77\ 86 FR at 16159.
\78\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(h).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commenters suggested that the second notice should be substantially
the same as the first, with a prominent warning that this is the second
and final notice with an explanation of the impact of not opting
out.\79\ Parties also recommended that the CCB issue the second notice
via U.S. mail.\80\ The Office agrees with these comments and proposes
that the second notice closely mirror the initial notice, specifically
with regard to the description of the CCB, the consequences of opting
out, the process of opting out, and accessing legal assistance. The
Office proposes to issue the second notice by mail, but also to deliver
a second copy via email to the designated service agent of a respondent
that is a corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association that
has indicated in the designated service agent directory that it will
accept email service.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\79\ Authors Alliance Initial NOI Comments at 4; Niskanen Ctr.
Initial NOI Comments at 4.
\80\ AIPLA Initial NOI Comments at 3. Copyright Alliance, et al.
Initial NOI Comments at 14.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office has also proposed that the second notice be issued no
later than twenty days after the claimant files proof of service or
waiver of service. The CCB will not issue a second notice if the
respondent has opted out. The Office anticipates that the respondent
will have at least thirty days between the receipt of the second notice
and the end of the opt-out period, given that the claimant has seven
days to file proof after effectuating service or obtaining waiver, and
the Office will issue the second notice no more than twenty days after
that. Delays in the claimant's filing of proof of service or waiver may
constitute good cause for extending the opt-out or response period.
F. Opt-Out Procedures
Once the respondent receives notice of the claim, the respondent
has sixty days to opt out of the proceeding before the CCB, although
the CCB can extend that period in the interests of justice, such as for
a delay in the receipt of a second notice due to a claimant's failure
to file proof of service in a timely manner.\81\ If a respondent does
not timely opt out, the proceeding will become active and the
respondent will be bound by the CCB's determination.\82\ If the
respondent does opt out, the proceeding will be dismissed without
prejudice.\83\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\81\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(aa)(1), 1507(b)(2)(A).
\82\ Id. at 1506(i).
\83\ Id.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office solicited general input regarding opt-out, in
particular, the form and process of a written opt-out notice.\84\
Commenters were consistent that the opt-out process should be quick and
easy to exercise, and that respondents should be provided both online
and mail options for opting out.\85\ Parties proposed different
approaches for the online opt-out process. Suggestions included the
creation of a QR code,\86\ a button on the CCB home page,\87\ and
providing a verification key code for security.\88\ The Office
appreciates parties' comments on this issue and proposes an opt-out
notification form that asks for the docket number of the claim,
identifying information regarding the respondent, and a signed
affirmation that the person affirming is the respondent identified in
the claim (or a representative of that respondent) and that the
respondent will not be participating in the CCB proceeding. This
notification can be submitted either online using a form on the CCB's
website or through the mail, or via hand delivery or commercial
courier. The Office has included the suggestion that an online opt-out
be accompanied by a verification code provided in the initial notice
and second notices, and will continue to consider the remaining
suggestions regarding online opt-out as it develops its form, website,
and online filing system. The CCB will include in the initial and
second notice instructions for completing opt-out election online, as
well as by using a paper opt-out form.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\84\ 86 FR at 16161.
\85\ See, e.g., Copyright Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments
at 17-18; EFF Initial NOI Comments at 2-3; Engine Initial NOI
Comments at 5-6; Internet Archive Initial NOI Comments at 1-2; MPA,
RIAA & SIIA Initial NOI Comments at 8; Public Knowledge, et al.
Initial NOI Comments at 14.
\86\ Engine Initial NOI Comments at 5; Niskanen Ctr. Initial NOI
Comments at 4.
\87\ Public Knowledge, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 13-14.
\88\ Copyright Alliance, et al. Initial NOI Comments at 12.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed rule clarifies various issues related to the scope and
effect of opting out. In particular, the rule requires that each
respondent to a proceeding independently opt out, and that an opt-out
will be effective against duplicate claims but not unrelated
[[Page 53903]]
claims. The Office recognized that ``Congress did not establish a
blanket opt-out for any entities other than libraries and archives,''
\89\ and yet the Office also recognizes that the result of an opt-out
is a dismissal without prejudice, leaving a claimant open to file
substantially the same claim again. The proposed rule is crafted in
light of the Office's inability to impose a blanket opt-out, but still
seeks to avoid subjecting a respondent to refiled claims.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\89\ 86 FR at 16161.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not included in this proposed rule is a specific mechanism for a
respondent to revoke an opt-out for a particular claim. The Office
recognizes that there may be situations where respondents may wish to
change their minds and opt in to a proceeding that was previously filed
with the CCB and dismissed due to a prior opt-out election.\90\ The
Office welcomes comment on whether the regulatory text should include a
provision permitting a respondent to give the CCB notice of an
intention to participate after an initial opt-out, and, if so, any
suggestions for regulatory language to govern this process.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\90\ For example, a claimant could file a federal lawsuit after
the respondent opts out of a CCB claim. The statute contemplates
that the parties could agree to a CCB proceeding in lieu of further
litigation. See 17 U.S.C. 1504(d)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office also solicited comments regarding whether it should
create a publicly accessible list of entities or individuals who have
opted out of particular proceedings.\91\ At present, given the limited
time before the anticipated commencement of CCB operations and the need
to focus on establishing the core proceedings of the CCB, the proposed
rule does not provide for a public list of prior opt outs. The Office
may, however, revisit this issue in the future.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\91\ 86 FR at 16161.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. Response
A respondent who decides not to opt out of the proceeding must file
a response to the claim with the CCB. The response may include ``legal
or equitable defense[s] under this title or otherwise available under
law'' \92\ in response to the claim. A respondent who timely waives
service has an additional thirty days to file a response in addition to
any deadlines set forth by the CCB.\93\ The statute is otherwise silent
as to the timing of a response filing, and a proceeding is considered
active prior to the filing of any response.\94\ Given that a scheduling
order must be sent out ``upon confirmation that a proceeding has become
an active proceeding'' \95\--i.e., upon the filing of proof of service
and the passing of the opt-out window--the Office understands this
requirement to mean that any response timeline is to be set forth after
the proceeding becomes active and should be included in the scheduling
order. Accordingly, the scheduling order issued by the CCB ``upon
confirmation that a proceeding has become an active proceeding'' will
include a thirty-day deadline from the date of the scheduling order for
filing the response. If the respondent has waived service, thereby
availing itself of an extra thirty days to respond to the claim, the
order will require that the response be filed within sixty days of the
date of the scheduling order.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\92\ 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(5).
\93\ Id. at 1506(g)(7)(B).
\94\ Id. at 1506(i). A proceeding is deemed active when ``proof
of service has been filed by the claimant and the respondent does
not submit an opt-out notice to the [CCB] within [the] 60-day
period.'' Id.
\95\ Id. at 1506(k).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office proposes that to respond to a claim, the respondent must
complete the appropriate form provided by the CCB and submit the
completed form through the Board's electronic filing and document
management system. If a respondent is unable to use the electronic
filing and document management system, it may submit a response by
following alternative submission instructions provided in the form or
by the CCB. In addition to identifying information and certification,
the form will ask for short statements from the respondent disputing
the facts of the claim and describing the dispute or the reasons
claimant's claim has no merit from its point of view. As discussed
below, the respondent will be able to raise counterclaims. For
infringement claims, the form will allow the respondent to identify
relevant defenses. In contrast to the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure,\96\ however, the proposed regulation does not provide that a
defense that is not asserted in a response is waived by the respondent.
At this early stage of the proceeding, such a rigid application of
pleading requirements would impose an unjustifiable burden on
respondents, especially those who are representing themselves. A
subsequent rulemaking will address the appropriate stage at which
defenses must be raised.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\96\ Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(h).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed rule also allows optional documentation to be attached
to the response form, including copies of the works involved in the
claim. In requesting this information, the Office is seeking to provide
respondents with the opportunity to meaningfully respond during the
initial stage of the proceeding.
For the response, the Office is particularly interested in comments
on an appropriate presentation of possible defenses available to the
respondent, any instructional or educational material that would assist
the respondent in constructing its response, and any other suggestions
that would enhance the respondent's ability to be meaningfully heard
and the claimant to be on notice of defenses.\97\ With respect to
defenses, the Office seeks comment on whether providing a list of
defenses (or a link to lists of defenses) that are commonly pleaded in
copyright infringement suits would be productive at this, or any, stage
in the case, and how to ensure that a respondent understands the
defenses available and only asserts those that are applicable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\97\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 22.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Counterclaims
The CCB may also hear counterclaims that either ``arise[ ] under
section 106 or section 512(f) and out of the same transaction or
occurrence that is the subject of a claim of infringement, . . . a
claim of noninfringement, . . . or a claim of misrepresentation,'' \98\
or ``arise[ ] under an agreement pertaining to the same transaction or
occurrence that is the subject of a claim of infringement . . . if the
agreement could affect the relief awarded to the claimant.'' \99\ Any
asserted counterclaim is subject to the same compliance review
applicable to an initial claim \100\ and is subject to dismissal for
unsuitability.\101\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\98\ 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(4)(B)(i).
\99\ Id. at 1504(c)(4)(B)(ii).
\100\ Id. at 1506(f)(2).
\101\ Id. at 1506(f)(3).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office proposes that the information required to assert a
counterclaim should closely mirror the information required to assert a
claim. A counterclaim must be filed at the time of the response, unless
the Board, for good cause, permits it to be asserted later in the
proceeding. This approach resembles the general requirement of
asserting a compulsory counterclaim in federal court.\102\ In proposing
this approach, the Office is seeking to maintain an efficient, orderly
procedure that provides parties sufficient notice as to the issues
involved in the proceeding.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\102\ Fed. R. Civ. P. 13(a).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The requirements for responding to a counterclaim largely mirror
the requirements for responding to a claim, including that a failure to
file a response
[[Page 53904]]
will constitute default. The triggering event for responding to a
counterclaim, however, is the notification by a Copyright Claims
Attorney that the counterclaim is compliant,\103\ rather than the
issuance of a scheduling order. When a respondent files a counterclaim,
a Copyright Claims Attorney must conduct the same compliance review
that occurs after the filing of an initial claim. If the counterclaim
is found to be compliant, the Board will provide notification of
compliance, which will begin the counterclaim respondent's thirty-day
period to respond. The Board then will issue a new scheduling order
updating the prior due dates as appropriate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\103\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(f)(2) (stating that when the Copyright
Claims Attorney finds a counterclaim to be compliant, ``the
counterclaimant and such other parties shall be so notified'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The proposed rule does not provide a mechanism for the respondent
to the counterclaim to opt out of the proceeding. The Office encourages
comment on this issue, including as to whether such a process is
permitted under the statute. The Office notes that Congress did not set
forth a procedure for opting out of a counterclaim, in contrast to the
detailed procedure set forth for the respondent's initial ability to
opt out. It also is noteworthy that Congress has limited allowable
counterclaims to those arising from the same transaction or occurrence,
and has further limited such claims to those implicating copyright or
an agreement affecting the relief to be awarded to the claimant.\104\
Accordingly, there arguably should be no surprise for the claimant when
a counterclaim is asserted. For example, a claimant who brings an
action before the CCB seeking a declaration of noninfringement of a
work could reasonably expect a counterclaim for infringement of that
same work. As the claimant has already voluntarily submitted to, and in
fact requested, the CCB to take up the general issue at hand, having an
opt-out procedure for counterclaims potentially could constitute an
inefficient use of time and resources.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\104\ Id. at 1504(c)(4).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
I. Fees
The Register has general authority to set fees for Copyright Office
services,\105\ and is specifically directed to set certain fees related
to CCB proceedings.\106\ Here, the Office sets forth proposed fees
relating to the CCB rules included in this notice. The Office will
propose additional fees in subsequent rulemakings for the services
addressed in those proceedings.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\105\ Id. at 708.
\106\ Id. at 1501(1).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Fee for Filing a Claim
To commence a proceeding before the CCB, a claim must be
accompanied ``by a filing fee in such amount as may be prescribed in
regulations established by the Register of Copyrights.'' \107\ The
Office is given upper and lower limits to the filing fees it may
assess: ``the sum total of'' filing fees must not be less than $100 or
exceed the ``cost of filing an action in a district court of the United
States,'' \108\ currently $402.\109\ The Office understands the ``sum
total of'' filing fees to consist of the two filing fees indicated in
the statute: The filing fee for the initial claim \110\ and the filing
fee to request review of a final determination by the Register.\111\
The amount of fees must ``further the goals of the Copyright Claims
Board.'' \112\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\107\ Id. at 1506(e)(3).
\108\ Id. at 1510(c).
\109\ The statutory fee for filing suit in a federal district
court is $350, 28 U.S.C. 1914(a), and an additional fee of $52 is
charged as an administrative fee by the Judicial Conference of the
United States. Id.
\110\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(e).
\111\ Id. at 1506(x).
\112\ Id. at 1501(c).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Office proposes an initial claim filing fee of $100 in the
interest of facilitating access to the CCB. Given Congress's goal of
ensuring that the CCB be accessible to the widest constituency
possible,\113\ the Office believes it is appropriate to keep the fee at
the statutory minimum.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\113\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17; S. Rep. No. 116-105, at 9-
10.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Senate Report proposed in a footnote that the Office consider a
two-tiered fee structure, with an initial fee assessed when the claim
is filed and a second fee assessed after the claim becomes active.\114\
After consideration, the Office has not included such a framework in
the proposed rule. First, it is not clear that the Office has the
statutory authority to split fees in this way. While the statute
expressly provides for a fee to initiate a claim,\115\ it does not
require a separate fee for a proceeding to become active.\116\
Furthermore, if the Office were to establish a system in which it
charged less than $100 for the first tier, and the claimant did not
move on to the second tier, the total filing fees would not reach the
statutory floor. The Office invites comment on these issues.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\114\ S. Rep. No. 116-105, at 4 n.4.
\115\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(e)(3).
\116\ Id. at 1506(i) (``If proof of service has been filed by
the claimant and the respondent does not submit an opt-out notice to
the Copyright Claims Board within that 60-day period, the proceeding
shall be deemed an active proceeding.'').
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
For similar reasons, the Office does not currently propose a fee
for a counterclaim. In contrast to the statutory provisions relating to
a claim, the CASE Act contains no express authorization for the Office
to charge fees for a counterclaim. The Office also notes that fees for
counterclaims are not required in federal district court, although some
state courts do assess such fees.\117\ The Office welcomes comment on
this matter as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\117\ See, e.g., Maryland Courts, District Court of Maryland
Cost Schedule DCA-109, (rev. 2018), <a href="https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/district/forms/acct/dca109.pdf">https://www.courts.state.md.us/sites/default/files/import/district/forms/acct/dca109.pdf</a> (assessing
$18.00 for a small claims cross claim); Superior Court of
California, Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (2014), <a href="https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/filingfees.pdf">https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/filingfees.pdf</a> (assessing fees for the
answer or other first paper filed by a party other than plaintiff).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Fee for Designated Service Agents
As part of its authority to maintain a directory of service agents,
the Office ``may require . . . corporations, partnerships, and
unincorporated associations designating . . . service agents to pay a
fee to cover the costs of maintaining the directory.'' \118\ As
discussed in the NOI,\119\ the designated service agent directory will
be similar in nature to the Office's existing DMCA designated agent
directory. The fee for adding an entry to the DMCA designated agent
directory is $6.\120\ This amount was selected, despite an estimated
$52 operating cost, in part due to the elastic nature of demand for the
DMCA directory.\121\ The Office anticipates that the demand for the CCB
designated service agent directory will be similarly elastic, if not
more, given that participation in the designated service agent
directory is not a statutory requirement. The proposed rule accordingly
sets a $6 fee for designation of a service agent for CCB purposes. The
Office believes that setting the fee at this low level will encourage
participation by corporations, partnerships, and unincorporated
associations, which in turn will produce a robust database that
benefits claimants and respondents alike.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\118\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(5)(B).
\119\ 86 FR 16160.
\120\ 37 CFR 201.3(c)(23).
\121\ Booz Allen Hamilton, 2017 Fee Study Report 26 (2017),
<a href="https://www.copyright.gov/rulemaking/feestudy2018/fee_study_report.pdf">https://www.copyright.gov/rulemaking/feestudy2018/fee_study_report.pdf</a>.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
List of Subjects
37 CFR Part 201
Copyright, General provisions.
37 CFR Part 220
Claims, Copyright, General.
[[Page 53905]]
37 CFR Part 222
Claims, Copyright.
37 CFR Part 223
Claims, Copyright.
37 CFR Part 224
Claims, Copyright.
Proposed Regulations
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the U.S. Copyright Office
proposes to amend Chapter II, Subchapters A and B, of title 37 Code of
Federal Regulations to read as follows:
Subchapter A--Copyright Office and Procedures
PART 201--GENERAL PROVISIONS
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1. The authority citation for part 201 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702.
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2. In Sec. 201.3, revise the section heading and add paragraph (g) to
read as follows:
Sec. 201.3. Fees for registration, recordation, and related services,
special services, and services performed by the Licensing Section and
the Copyright Claims Board.
* * * * *
(g) Copyright Claims Board fees. The Copyright Office has
established the following fees for specific services related to the
Copyright Claims Board:
Table 4 to Paragraph (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright claims board fees Fees ($)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Filing a claim before the Copyright Claims Board.... 100
(2) Designation of a service agent by a corporation, 6
partnership, or unincorporated association under 17
U.S.C. 1506(g)(5)(B), or amendment of designation......
(3) [Reserved].......................................... ..............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subchapter B--Copyright Claims Board and Procedures
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3. Add part 220 to read as follows:
PART 220--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.
220.1 Definitions.
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.
Sec. 220.1. Definitions.
For purposes of this subchapter:
An initial notice means the notice of a proceeding that accompanies
a claim or counterclaim in a Copyright Claims Board proceeding as
described in 17 U.S.C. 1506(g).
A second notice means the notice of a proceeding sent by the
Copyright Claims Board as described in 17 U.S.C. 1506(h).
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4. Add part 222 read as follows:
PART 222--PROCEEDINGS
Sec.
222.1 [Reserved]
222.2 Initiating a proceeding; the claim.
222.3 Content of initial notice to respondent.
222.4 Second notice by or on behalf of the Board.
222.5 Service; designated service agents.
222.6 Waiver of service.
222.7 Response.
222.8 Counterclaim.
222.9 Response to counterclaim.
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.
Sec. 222.1 [Reserved]
Sec. 222.2 Initiating a proceeding; the claim.
(a) Initiating a proceeding. A claimant may initiate a proceeding
before the Copyright Claims Board by submitting the following
information through the electronic filing system--
(1) A claim, using a form provided on the Copyright Claims Board's
website;
(2) A completed initial notice, using the form provided on the
Copyright Claims Board's website; and
(3) The filing fee set forth in 37 CFR 201.3.
(b) Electronic filing requirement. Except as provided, otherwise in
this paragraph, to submit the claim and filing fee, the claimant must
be a registered user of the Board's electronic filing system. A
claimant who is unable to use the electronic filing system and submits
the certification provided for in 37 CFR 222.5(e)(2)(ii) may initiate a
proceeding by using printed forms and alternate submission instructions
provided by the Copyright Claims Board.
(c) Contents of the claim. The claim shall include:
(1) A caption, providing the name(s) of the claimant(s) and
respondent(s);
(2) Identification of the claims asserted against the
respondent(s), which shall consist of at least one of the following:
(i) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted
work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106;
(ii) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive
right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106; or,
(iii) A claim under 17 U.S.C. 512(f) for misrepresentation in
connection with--
(A) A notification of claimed infringement; or
(B) A counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled
material;
(3) The name(s) and address(es) of the claimant(s);
(4) The name(s) and address(es) of the respondent(s);
(5) For a claim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this
section--
(i) Whether the claimant is the legal or beneficial owner of rights
in a work protected by copyright and, if there are any co-owners, their
names;
(ii) The following information for each work at issue in the claim:
(A) The title of the work;
(B) The author(s) of the work;
(C) If a copyright registration has issued for the work, the
registration number and effective date of registration;
(D) If an application for copyright registration has been submitted
but a registration has not yet issued, the service request number (SR
number) and application date; and
(E) The work of authorship's category, as set forth in 17 U.S.C.
102 for each work at issue, or, if the claimant is unable to determine
the applicable category, a brief description of the nature of the work.
(iii) A statement describing the facts relating to the alleged
infringement, including, to the extent known:
(A) Which exclusive rights as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 106 are at
issue;
(B) The beginning date of the alleged infringement;
(C) The name(s) of the person(s) or organization(s) alleged to have
infringed the work;
(D) The facts leading the claimant to believe the work has been
infringed;
(E) Whether the alleged infringement has continued up to the date
the claim was filed, or, if it has not, the date the alleged
infringement ceased;
(F) Where the alleged act(s) of infringement occurred; and
(G) If the claim of infringement is asserted against an online
service
[[Page 53906]]
provider as defined in 17 U.S.C. 512(k)(1)(B) for infringement by
reason of the storage of or referral or linking to infringing material
that may be subject to the limitations on liability set forth in
subsection 17 U.S.C. 512(b), (c), or (d), an affirmance that the
claimant has previously notified the service provider of the claimed
infringement in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 512(b)(2)(E), (c)(3), or
(d)(3), as applicable, and that the service provider failed to remove
or disable access to the material expeditiously upon the provision of
such notice;
(6) For a claim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
section--
(i) The name of the party who is asserting that the claimant has
infringed a copyright;
(ii) The following information for each work alleged to have been
infringed, to the extent known to the claimant:
(A) The title;
(B) If a copyright registration has issued for the work, the
registration number and effective date of registration;
(C) If an application for copyright has been submitted, but a
registration has not yet issued, the service request number (SR number)
and registration application date; and
(D) The work's category, as set forth 17 U.S.C. 102, or, if the
claimant is unable to determine which category is applicable, a brief
description of the nature of the work;
(iii) A brief description of the activity at issue in the claim,
including:
(A) Any exclusive rights as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 106 that may be
implicated;
(B) The beginning and ending dates of the activities at issue;
(C) Whether the activities at issue have continued to the date the
claim was filed;
(D) The name(s) of the person(s) involved in the activities at
issue; and
(E) Where the activities at issue occurred;
(iv) A brief statement describing the reasons why the claimant
believes that no infringement occurred, including any relevant history
or agreements between the parties and whether any exceptions and
limitations as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 107 through 122 are implicated;
(7) For a claim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(iii) under this
section--
(i) The sender of the notification of claimed infringement;
(ii) The recipient of the notification of claimed infringement;
(iii) The date the notification of claimed infringement was sent;
(iv) If a counter notification was sent in response to the
notification--
(A) The sender of the counter notification;
(B) The recipient of the counter notification;
(C) The date the counter notification was sent; and
(D) A description of the counter notification;
(v) The words in the notification or counter notification that
allegedly constituted a misrepresentation;
(vi) An explanation of why the identified words allegedly
constituted a misrepresentation; and
(vii) An explanation of how the alleged misrepresentation caused
harm to the claimant(s);
(8) A statement describing and estimating the monetary harm
suffered by the claimant(s) as a result of the alleged activity. For
claims of infringement, this statement may address the copyright
owner's actual damages and the profits received by respondent(s) that
are attributable to the alleged infringement;
(9) Whether the claimant requests that the proceeding be conducted
as a ``smaller claim'' under 17 U.S.C. 1506(z) and 37 CFR part 226, and
would accept a limitation on total damages of $5,000 if the request is
granted; and
(10) A certification under penalty of perjury that the information
provided in the claim is accurate and truthful to the best of the
certifying party's knowledge. The certification shall include the
typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the claimant(s), and if the
signature is handwritten it shall be accompanied by a typed or printed
name.
(d) Additional matter. The claimant may also include, as
attachments to or files accompanying the claim:
(1) A copy of the certificate of copyright registration for a work
that is the subject of the proceeding;
(2) A copy of the allegedly infringed work. This copy may also be
accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that shows
where the allegedly infringed work has been posted;
(3) A copy of the allegedly infringing material. This copy may also
be accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that
shows any allegedly infringing activity;
(4) A copy of the notification of claimed infringement that is
alleged to contain the misrepresentation;
(5) A copy of the counter notification that is alleged to contain
the misrepresentation; and
(6) Any other exhibits that play a significant role in setting
forth the facts of the claim.
Sec. 222.3 Content of initial notice to respondent.
(a) Content of initial notice. The initial notice to the respondent
shall be prepared using a form made available by the Copyright Claims
Board that shall--
(1) Include on the first page a caption that identifies the parties
and includes the docket number assigned by the Board;
(2) Be addressed to the respondent;
(3) Identify the claimant and provide a mailing address and other
contact information for the claimant or, if the claimant is represented
by counsel, the claimant's counsel;
(4) Advise the respondent that a legal proceeding has been
commenced by the claimant(s) in the Board against the respondent;
(5) Identify the nature of the claims asserted against the
respondent, which shall consist of at least one of the following:
(i) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted
work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106;
(ii) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive
right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106 ; and
(iii) A claim under 17 U.S.C. 512(f) for misrepresentation in
connection with a notification of claimed infringement or a counter
notification seeking to replace removed or disabled material;
(6) Describe the Board, including that it is a three-member
tribunal within the Copyright Office that has been established by law
to resolve certain copyright disputes in which the total monetary
recovery does not exceed $30,000;
(7) State that the respondent has the right to opt out of
participating in the proceeding, and that the consequence of opting out
is that the proceeding will be dismissed without prejudice and the
claimant will have to determine whether to file a lawsuit in a federal
district court;
(8) State that if the respondent does not opt out within 60 days
from the day the respondent received the initial notice, the
consequences are that the proceeding will go forward and the respondent
will--
(i) Lose the opportunity have the dispute decided by the federal
court system, created under Article III of the Constitution of the
United States; and
(ii) Waive the right to have a trial by jury regarding the dispute;
(9) State that the notice is in regard to an official government
proceeding and provide information on how to access the docket of the
proceeding in the Board's electronic filing system;
[[Page 53907]]
(10) Provide information on how to become a registered user of the
Board's electronic filing system;
(11) State that parties may represent themselves in the proceeding,
but note that a party may wish to consult with an attorney or with a
law school clinic, and provide reference to pro bono (free) resources
which may be available and are listed on the Board's website;
(12) Include the name, address, email address, and telephone number
of the claimant(s) or, if a claimant is represented by counsel, of the
claimant's counsel;
(13) Indicate where other pertinent information concerning
proceedings before the Board may be found on the Board's website;
(14) Provide direction on how a respondent may opt out of the
proceeding, either online or by mail; and
(15) Include any additional information that the Board may
determine should be included.
(b) Following notification from the Board pursuant to section 17
U.S.C. 1506(f)(1)(A) to proceed with service of the claim, the
respondent shall cause the initial notice, the claim, the paper opt-out
notification form, and any other documents required by the direction of
the Board to be served with the initial notice and the claim, upon each
respondent as prescribed in 37 CFR 222.5(a) and 17 U.S.C. 1506(g). The
copy of the claim that is served shall be the copy that is, at the time
of service, available on the Board's electronic filing system.
Sec. 222.4 Second Notice by or on behalf of the Board.
(a) Content of second notice. The second notice to the respondent
shall:
(1) Include on the first page a caption identifying the parties and
the docket number;
(2) Be addressed to the respondent, using the address that appeared
in the initial notice;
(3) Include the claimant identification and contact information
from the initial notice;
(4) Advise the respondent that a legal proceeding has been
commenced by the claimant(s) in the Copyright Claims Board against the
respondent;
(5) Identify the nature of the claims asserted against the
respondent, which shall consist of at least one of the following:
(i) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted
work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106;
(ii) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive
right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106; and
(iii) A claim under 17 U.S.C. 512(f) for misrepresentation in
connection with--
(A) A notification of claimed infringement; or
(B) A counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled
material.
(6) State that the respondent has the right to opt out of
participating in the proceeding, and that the consequence of opting out
is that the proceeding will be dismissed without prejudice and the
claimant will have to determine whether to file a lawsuit in a federal
district court;
(7) State that if the respondent does not opt out within 60 days
from the day the respondent received the initial notice, the
consequences are that the proceeding will go forward and the respondent
will--
(i) Lose the opportunity have the dispute decided by the federal
court system, created under Article III of the Constitution of the
United States; and
(ii) Waive the right to have a trial by jury regarding the dispute;
(8) Provide information on how to access the docket of the
proceeding in the Board's electronic filing system;
(9) Provide information on how to become a registered user of the
Board's electronic filing system;
(10) State that parties may represent themselves in the proceeding,
but note that a party may wish to consult with an attorney or with a
law school clinic, and provide reference to pro bono (free) resources
which may be available and are listed on the Board's website;
(11) Include the name, address, email address, and telephone number
of the claimant(s) or, if a claimant is represented by counsel, of the
claimant's counsel;
(12) Indicate where other pertinent information concerning
proceedings before the Board may be found on the Board's website;
(13) Provide direction on how a respondent may opt out of the
proceeding, either by online or by mail; and
(14) Include any additional information that the Board may
determine should be included.
(b) Timing of second notice. The Board shall issue the second
notice in the manner prescribed by 37 CFR 222.5 no later than 20 days
after the claimant files proof of service or a completed waiver of
service with the Board unless the respondent has already submitted an
opt-out notification pursuant to 37 CFR 223.1.
Sec. 222.5 Service; designated service agents.
(a) Service of initial notice, claim, and related documents--(1)
Timing of service. A claimant or counterclaimant may proceed with
service of a claim or counterclaim only after the claim or counterclaim
is reviewed by a Copyright Claims Officer and found to comply with this
part and 17 U.S.C. chapter 15.
(2) Service methods. Service of the initial notice, the claim, and
other documents required by this part or the Copyright Claims Board to
be served with the initial notice and claim shall be made as provided
under 17 U.S.C. 1506(g), as supplemented by this section. If service is
made upon a service agent designated under 17 U.S.C. 1506(g)(5)(B),
service shall be made by certified mail or by any other method that the
entity that has designated the service agent has stated, in its
designation under Sec. 222.5(b)(7), that it will accept.
(3) Filing of proof of service. (i) No later than seven calendar
days after service of the initial notice and all accompanying documents
under paragraph (a)(2) of this section, a claimant shall file a
completed proof of service form through the Board's electronic filing
system. The proof of service form shall be located on the Board's
website.
(ii) The claimant's failure to comply with the filing deadline in
paragraph (a)(1) of this section may constitute exceptional
circumstances justifying an extension of the 60-day period in which a
respondent may deliver an opt-out notification to the Board under 17
U.S.C. 1506(i).
(b) Designated service agents. (1) A corporation, partnership, or
unincorporated association that is entitled under 17 U.S.C.
1506(g)(5)(B) to designate a service agent to receive notice of a claim
shall submit the designation electronically through the Copyright
Claims Board's designated service agent directory, which shall be
available on the Board's website.
(2) A service agent designation shall be accompanied by the fee set
forth in 37 CFR 201.3.
(3) Each corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association
that submits a service agent designation may include up to five trade
names that function as alternate business names (i.e., ``doing business
as'' or ``d/b/a'' names) under which a registered corporation,
partnership, or unincorporated association is doing business. Related
or affiliated corporations, partnerships, or unincorporated
associations that are separate legal entities (e.g., parent and
subsidiary companies) must file separate service agent designations,
although a submitter may designate the same service agent for multiple
[[Page 53908]]
corporations, partnerships, or unincorporated associations.
(4) To complete the designation, the person submitting the
designation will be required to make a certification, under penalty of
perjury, that the submitter is authorized by law to make the
designation on behalf of the corporation, partnership, or
unincorporated association.
(5) The designated service agent submission shall include:
(i) The legal name, business address, email, and telephone number
of the corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association;
(ii) The principal place of business of the corporation,
partnership, or unincorporated association;
(iii) For corporations, the state of incorporation, any associated
state file or registration number, and all other states in which the
corporation is registered to do business;
(iv) Up to five trade names of the corporation, partnership, or
unincorporated association, as described by paragraph (b)(3) of this
section;
(v) The name, business address (or, if the agent does not have a
business address, the address of the residence of), email, and
telephone number of the designated service agent;
(vi) The submitter's name, email, and telephone number; and
(vii) The corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association's
service method election, as described in paragraph (b)(7) of this
section.
(6) The designation shall be indexed under the names of each
corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association for which an
agent has been designated and shall be made available on the Board's
website. The business address, email, and telephone number of the
corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association provided under
paragraph (b)(5)(i) of this section will not be made publicly available
on the designated service agent directory website, but such information
will be made available to Board staff.
(7)(i) A corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association
that designates a service agent shall, as a condition of designating a
service agent, consent to receive service upon the agent by means of
certified mail. It may also indicate in its designation that it
consents to receive service by email.
(ii) If a corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association
indicates that it consents to receive service by email, the designated
service agent's email address will be displayed on the designated
service agent directory.
(iii) In cases where the designation states that service may be
made by email, the person submitting the designation shall affirm under
penalty of perjury that the corporation, partnership, or unincorporated
association for which the agent has been designated waives the right to
personal service by means other than email and that the person making
the designation has the authority to waive that right on behalf of the
corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association.
(iv) The corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association's
service agent's place of business or, if there is no place of business,
the address of the service agent's residence, must be located within
the United States.
(8) A corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association may
amend a designation of a service agent by following directions on the
Board's website.
(i) Such amendment shall be accompanied by the fee set forth in 37
CFR 201.3.
(ii) The requirements found in paragraph (b) of this section shall
apply to the service agent designation amendment.
(9) After a corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association
submits a service agent designation, such designation will be made
available on the public designated service agent directory after
payment has been remitted and the Board has reviewed the submission to
determine whether the submission qualifies for the designated agent
provision. The review may include confirmation that the submission was
authorized.
If the Board determines that a submitted service agent designation
does not qualify under this section or if it has reason to believe that
the submitter was not authorized by law to make the designation on
behalf of the corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association,
it will notify the submitter that it intends not to add the record to
the directory, or that it intends to remove (or not approve) the record
from the directory and will provide the submitter ten calendar days to
respond. If the submitter fails to respond, or if, after reviewing the
response, the Board determines that the submission does not qualify for
the designated service agent directory, the entity will not be added
to, or will be removed from, the directory.
(c) Waiver of personal service. Waiver of personal service may be
completed by following the procedures in 37 CFR 222.6.
(d) Service of other documents. All documents other than those
identified in paragraph (a) of this section must be served in
accordance with this paragraph.
(1) Service by the Copyright Claims Board.
(i) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this section, the
Board shall serve one copy of all orders, notices, decisions, rulings
on motions, and similar documents issued by the Board upon each party
in accordance with paragraph (d)(3) of this section.
(ii)(A) The Board shall serve the second notice required under 17
U.S.C. 1506(h), along with a copy of the paper opt-out notification
form, by sending them via certified mail to the respondent at the
address provided--
(1) In the designated service agent directory, if the respondent is
a corporation, partnership, or unincorporated association that has
designated a service agent; and otherwise
(2) By the claimant in the claim.
(B) The Board shall also serve the second notice by email if an
email address for the respondent has been provided in the designated
service agent directory or by the claimant.
(2) Service by a party. Unless these regulations or the Board
provides otherwise, each party to a proceeding shall serve on every
other party each of the following documents in the manner prescribed in
paragraph (d)(3) of this section:
(i) Any document filed by the respondent other than an opt-out
notification;
(ii) Any document filed by the claimant following the service of
the initial notice and the claim;
(iii) A discovery document required to be served on a party;
(iv) A party submission filed with the Board pursuant to 17 U.S.C.
1506(m);
(v) A written notice of appearance or any similar document; and
(vi) Any other document permitted to be filed by the Board.
(3) Service of other documents: How made.--(i) Service on whom.
(A) If a party is represented by an attorney or authorized
representative, service under this rule must be made on the attorney or
authorized representative unless the Board orders service on the party.
(B) If a party is not represented, service under this rule must be
made on the party.
(ii) Service in general. (A) A document is served under this
paragraph by sending it to a registered user by filing it with the
Board's electronic filing system or sending it by
[[Page 53909]]
other electronic means that the person to be served consented to in
writing. For these service methods, service is complete upon filing or
sending, respectively, but is not effective if the filer or sender
learns that it did not reach the person to be served.
(B) A party who is not represented by counsel and who submits a
certification pursuant to 37 CFR 222.5(e)(2)(ii) and serves that
certification upon the other parties by one of the methods set forth in
paragraphs (d)(1), (2), or (3) of this section may be excused from
serving documents and receiving service of documents electronically by
the means set forth in paragraph (d)(3)(ii)(A) of this section. Service
of a document by or upon such a person shall be accomplished by--
(1) Mailing it to the person's last known address, in which event
service is complete upon mailing it to the person;
(2) Emailing it to the person, if the person has consented to
receive service by email;
(3) Handing it to the person;
(4) Leaving it at the person's office with a clerk or other person
in charge or in a conspicuous place in the office;
(5) Leaving it at the person's dwelling or usual place of abode
with someone of suitable age and discretion who resides there.
(e) Filing--(1) Required filings and certificate of service. Other
than service of the initial notice and claim, any document that is
required to be served--together with a certificate of service in cases
where a certificate of service is required--must be filed with the
Board within a reasonable time after service, but no later than thirty
days after service was completed. Notwithstanding the above, unless the
Board orders otherwise, discovery requests and responses must not be
filed unless they are used in the proceeding, as needed, in relation to
discovery disputes or submissions on the merits.
(2) How filing is made--in general. (i) A document is filed by
submitting it electronically to the Board's electronic filing system.
(ii) A party who is not represented by counsel may be excused from
the requirements set forth in 37 CFR 222.5(e)(1) by submitting a
statement to the Board certifying under penalty of perjury that the
party is unable to use the Board's electronic filing system or that
doing so would cause an undue hardship. The party must submit this
statement on a form obtained from the Board. A party who submits such a
statement may, file a document by--
(A) Email, to an email address as directed by the Board;
(B) Mail, by placing it in an envelope addressed to Copyright
Claims Board, Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, 101
Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559-6000 or P.O. Box 71380,
Washington, DC 20024-1380, with postage prepaid, and depositing it with
the United States Postal Service or major commercial carrier, such as
UPS or FedEx, for delivery;
(C) Hand delivery by a private party between the hours of 8:30 a.m.
and 5:00 p.m. to the Copyright Office Public Information Office, Room
LM-401 in the James Madison Memorial Building of the Library of
Congress, in an envelope addressed as follows: Copyright Claims Board,
U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial
Building, 101 Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559; or,
(D) Hand delivery by a commercial courier (excluding FedEx, UPS,
and similar courier services); the envelope must be delivered to the
Congressional Courier Acceptance Site (CCAS) located at Second and D
Street NE, Washington, DC, addressed as follows: Copyright Claims
Board, Library of Congress, James Madison Memorial Building, 101
Independence Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20559-6000.
(3) Certificate of service. (i) Except as provided in paragraph
(e)(2) of this section, every document filed with the Board and
required to be served upon all parties must be accompanied by a
certificate of service signed by (or on behalf of) the party making the
service.
(ii) For any filing that occurs after the filing of a response, no
certificate of service is required when a document is served by filing
it with the Copyright Claims Board's electronic filing system.
Sec. 222.6 Waiver of service.
(a) Content of waiver of service request. The request for waiver of
service form shall:
(1) Bear the name of the Copyright Claims Board;
(2) Include on the first page and waiver page the caption
identifying the parties and the docket number;
(3) Be addressed to the respondent;
(4) Contain the date of the request;
(5) Notify the respondent that a legal proceeding has been
commenced by the claimant(s) in the Board against the Respondent;
(6) Advise that the form is not a summons or official notice from
the Board;
(7) Request that respondent waive formal service of summons by
signing the enclosed waiver;
(8) State that a waiver of personal service shall not constitute a
waiver of the right to opt out of the proceeding.
(9) Describe the effect of agreeing or declining to waive service;
(10) Include a waiver of personal service provided by the Board for
respondent to sign that includes:
(i) An affirmation that the respondent is waiving service;
(ii) An affirmation that waiving service does affect respondent's
ability to opt out of the proceeding;
(iii) An affirmation that respondent understands the requirement to
opt out within 60 days of receiving the request;
(iv) The name, address, email address, and telephone number of the
respondent; and
(v) The typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the respondent,
and if the signature is handwritten it shall be accompanied by a typed
or printed name.
(b) Delivery of request for waiver of service. A claimant may
request that a respondent waive personal service as provided by 17
U.S.C. 1506(g)(6) by delivering, via first class mail, the following to
the respondent:
(1) A completed waiver of personal service form provided on the
Board's website;
(2) The documents described in 37 CFR 222.3, including the initial
notice and the claim; and
(3) An envelope, with postage prepaid and addressed to the
claimant.
(c) Completing waiver of service. The respondent may complete
waiver of service by returning the signed waiver form in the postage
prepaid envelope to claimant by mail or, if the claimant also provides
an email address to which the waiver of personal service form may be
returned, by means of an email to which a copy of the signed form is
attached. Waiving service does affect respondent's ability to opt out
of proceedings.
(d) Timing of completing waiver. The respondent has 30 days from
the date on which the request was sent to return the waiver form.
Sec. 222.7 Response.
(a) Filing a response. A respondent who does not opt out within 60
days after receiving the initial notice shall begin participation
before the Board by submitting a response through the electronic filing
system using the response form provided by the Board, and serving the
response form in the manner set forth in 37 CFR 222.5(d). Except as
provided in this paragraph, to submit the response, the respondent must
be a registered user of the electronic filing system. A respondent who
is unable to use the electronic
[[Page 53910]]
filing system and submits the certification provided for in 37 CFR
222.5(e)(2)(ii) may file a response by using printed forms and
alternate submission instructions provided by the Board.
(b) Content of response. The response shall include:
(1) A caption identifying the parties and the docket number
assigned by the Board;
(2) The name, address, phone number, and email of each respondent
filing the response;
(3) A short statement, if applicable, disputing any facts asserted
in the claim;
(4) For claims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(1), a statement
describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged infringement,
including any defenses as well as any reason why the Respondent
believes there was no copyright infringement, including whether any
exceptions and limitations as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 107 through 122
that are implicated;
(5) For claims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2), a statement
describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged infringement,
including reasons why the respondent believes there was copyright
infringement;
(6) For claims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(3), a statement
describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged
misrepresentation and an explanation of why the respondent believes the
identified words do not constitute misrepresentation;
(7) Any counterclaims; and
(8) A certification under penalty of perjury that the information
provided in the response is accurate and truthful to the best of the
certifying party's knowledge. The certification shall include the
typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the respondent(s), and if
the signature is handwritten it shall be accompanied by a typed or
printed name.
(c) Additional matter. The respondent may also include, as
attachments to or files that accompany the Response:
(1) A copy of the certificate of copyright registration for a work
that is the subject of the proceeding;
(2) A copy of the allegedly infringed work. This copy may also be
accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that shows
where the allegedly infringed work has been posted;
(3) A copy of the allegedly infringing material. This copy may also
be accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that
shows any allegedly infringing activity;
(4) A copy of the notification of claimed infringement that is
alleged to contain the misrepresentation;
(5) A copy of the counter notification that is alleged to contain
the misrepresentation; and
(6) Any other exhibits that play a significant role in setting
forth the facts of the response.
(d) Timing of response. The respondent has 30 days from the
issuance of the scheduling order to submit a response. If the
respondent waived service, the respondent has an additional 30 days to
submit the response.
(e) Failure to file response. A failure to file a response within
the required timeframe will constitute a default under 17 U.S.C.
1506(u), and the Board will begin proceedings in accordance with 37 CFR
227.
Sec. 222.8 Counterclaim.
(a) Asserting a counterclaim. Any party can assert a counterclaim
falling under the jurisdiction of the Board that--
(1) Arises out of the same transaction or occurrence as the initial
claim; or
(2) Arises under an agreement pertaining to the same transaction or
occurrence that is subject to an initial claim of infringement, if the
agreement could affect the relief awarded to the claimant.
(b) Electronic filing requirement. A party may submit a
counterclaim through the electronic filing system using the response
form or counterclaim form provided by the Board, and serving the
counterclaim as provided in Sec. 222.5. Except as otherwise provided
in this paragraph, to submit the counterclaim, the respondent must be a
registered user of the electronic filing system. A respondent who is
unable to use the electronic filing system and submits the
certification provided for in 37 CFR 222.5(e)(2)(ii) may submit a
counterclaim by using printed forms and alternate submission
instructions provided by the Board.
(c) Content of counterclaim. The counterclaim shall include:
(1) The name of the party against whom the counterclaim is
asserted;
(2) An identification of the counterclaim, which shall consist of
at least one of the following:
(i) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted
work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106;
(ii) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive
right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. 106; and
(iii) A claim under 17 U.S.C. 512(f) for misrepresentation in
connection with--
(A) A notification of claimed infringement; or
(B) A counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled
material.
(3) For a counterclaim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this
section--
(i) Whether the counterclaimant is the legal or beneficial owner of
rights in a work protected by copyright and, if there are any co-
owners, their names;
(ii) The following information for each work at issue in the claim:
(A) The title of the work;
(B) The author(s) of the work;
(C) If a copyright registration has issued for the work, the
registration number and effective date of registration;
(D) If an application for copyright has been submitted but a
registration has not yet issued, the service request number (SR number)
and registration application date; and
(E) The work's category, as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 102, or, if the
counterclaimant is unable to determine which category is applicable, a
brief description of the nature of the work;
(iii) A statement describing the facts relating to the alleged
infringement, including, to the extent known:
(A) Which exclusive rights as set forth in 17 U.S.C 106 are at
issue;
(B) The beginning date of the alleged infringement;
(C) The name(s) of the person(s) or organization(s) alleged to have
infringed the work;
(D) The nature of the alleged infringement;
(E) Whether the alleged infringement has continued up to the date
the claim was filed, or, if it has not, the date the alleged
infringement ceased;
(F) Where the alleged act(s) of infringement occurred; and
(G) If the claim of infringement is asserted against an online
service provider as defined in 17 U.S.C. 512(k)(1)(B) for infringement
by reason of the storage of or referral or linking to infringing
material that may be subject to the limitations on liability set forth
in subsection 17 U.S.C. 512(b), (c), or (d), an affirmance that the
counterclaimant has previously notified the service provider of the
claimed infringement in accordance with 17 U.S.C. 512(b)(2)(E), (c)(3),
or (d)(3), as applicable, and that the service provider failed to
remove or disable access to the material expeditiously upon the
provision of such notice;
(4) For a counterclaim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this
section--
(i) The name of the party who is asserting that the counterclaimant
has infringed a copyright;
(ii) The following information for each work alleged to have been
[[Page 53911]]
infringed, if that information is known to the counterclaimant:
(A) The title;
(B) If a copyright registration has issued for the work, the
registration number and effective date of registration;
(C) If an application for copyright has been submitted, but a
registration has not yet issued, the service request number (SR number)
and registration application date; and
(D) The work's category, as set forth 17 U.S.C. 102, or, if the
counterclaimant is unable to determine which category is applicable, a
brief description of the nature of the work;
(iii) A brief description of the activity at issue in the claim,
including:
(A) Any exclusive rights as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 106 that may be
implicated;
(B) The beginning and ending dates of the activities at issue;
(C) Whether the activities at issue have continued to the date the
claim was filed;
(D) The name(s) of the person(s) involved in the activities at
issue; and
(E) Where the activities at issue occurred;
(iv) A brief statement describing the reasons why the
counterclaimant believes that no infringement occurred, including any
relevant history or agreements between the parties and whether any
exceptions and limitations as set forth in 17 U.S.C. 107 through 122
are implicated;
(5) For a counterclaim asserted under paragraph (b)(2)(iii) of this
section--
(i) The sender of the notification of claimed infringement;
(ii) The recipient of the notification of claimed infringement;
(iii) The date the notification of claimed infringement was sent;
(iv) If a counter notification was sent in response to the
notification--
(A) The sender of the counter notification;
(B) The recipient of the counter notification;
(C) The date the counter notification was sent; and
(D) A description of the counter notification;
(v) The words in the notification or counter notification that
allegedly constituted a misrepresentation;
(vi) An explanation of why the identified words allegedly
constituted a misrepresentation; and
(vii) An explanation of how the alleged misrepresentation caused
harm to the counterclaimant(s);
(6) A statement describing the harm suffered by the
counterclaimant(s) as a result of the alleged activity. For claims of
infringement, this statement may include a description of the profits
attributable to the alleged infringement received by the
counterclaimant(s) against whom the counterclaim is asserted.
(7) A statement describing the relationship between the initial
claim and the counterclaim; and
(8) A certification under penalty of perjury that the information
provided in the counterclaim is accurate and truthful to the best of
the certifying party's knowledge. The certification shall include the
typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the counterclaimant(s), and
if the signature is handwritten it shall be accompanied by a typed or
printed name.
(d) Additional matter. The counterclaimant may also include, as
attachments to or files that accompany the counterclaim:
(1) A copy of the certificate of copyright registration for a work
that is the subject of the proceeding;
(2) A copy of the allegedly infringed work. This copy may also be
accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that shows
where the allegedly infringed work has been posted;
(3) A copy of the allegedly infringing material. This copy may also
be accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that
shows any allegedly infringing activity;
(4) A copy of the notification of claimed infringement that is
alleged to contain the misrepresentation;
(5) A copy of the counter notification that is alleged to contain
the misrepresentation; and
(6) Any other exhibits that play a significant role in setting
forth the facts of the counterclaim.
(e) Timing of counterclaim. A counterclaim must be served and filed
at the time of the response unless the Board, for good cause, permits a
counterclaim to be asserted at a subsequent time.
Sec. 222.9 Response to counterclaim.
(a) Filing a response to a counterclaim. Within 30 days following
the Board's issuance of notification that a counterclaim is compliant
in accordance with 37 CFR part 224, a claimant against whom a
counterclaim has been asserted (``counterclaim respondent'') shall
serve a response to the counterclaim in the manner set forth in 37 CFR
222.5(d) and shall file the response to the counterclaim with the Board
in the manner set forth in 37 CFR 222.5(e).
(b) Content of response to a counterclaim. The response to a
counterclaim shall include:
(1) A caption identifying the parties and the docket number;
(2) The name, address, phone number, and email address of each
counterclaim respondent filing the response;
(3) A short statement, if applicable, disputing any facts asserted
in the counterclaim;
(4) For counterclaims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(1), a
statement describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged
infringement, including any defenses as well as any reason why the
counterclaim respondent believes there was no infringement of
copyright, including any exceptions and limitations as set forth in 17
U.S.C. 107 through 122 that are implicated;
(5) For counterclaims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(2), a
statement describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged
infringement, including reasons why the counterclaim respondent
believes there is infringement of copyright;
(6) For counterclaims brought under 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(3), a
statement describing in detail the dispute regarding the alleged
misrepresentation and an explanation of why the counterclaim respondent
believes the identified words do not constitute misrepresentation; and
(7) A certification under penalty of perjury that the information
provided in the response to the counterclaim is accurate and truthful
to the best of the certifying party's knowledge. The certification
shall include the typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the
Counterclaim Respondent(s), and if the signature is handwritten it
shall be accompanied by a typed or printed name.
(c) Additional matter. The counterclaim respondent may also
include, as attachments to or files that accompany the counterclaim
response:
(1) A copy of the certificate of copyright registration for a work
that is the subject of the proceeding;
(2) A copy of the allegedly infringed work. This copy may also be
accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that shows
where the allegedly infringed work has been posted;
(3) A copy of the allegedly infringing material. This copy may also
be accompanied by additional information, such as a hyperlink, that
shows any allegedly infringing activity;
(4) A copy of the notification of claimed infringement that is
alleged to contain the misrepresentation;
(5) A copy of the counter notification that is alleged to contain
the misrepresentation; and
[[Page 53912]]
(6) Any other exhibits that play a significant role in setting
forth the facts of the counterclaim response.
(d) Failure to file counterclaim response. A failure to file a
counterclaim response within the required timeframe will constitute a
default under 17 U.S.C. 1506(u), and the Board will begin proceedings
in accordance with 37 CFR 227.
PART 223--OPT-OUT PROVISIONS
0
5. The authority citation for part 223 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.
0
6. Revise Sec. 223.1 to read as follows:
Sec. 223.1 Respondent's opt-out.
(a) Effect of opt-out on particular proceeding. A respondent may
opt out of a proceeding before the Board pursuant to 17 U.S.C. 1506(i)
following the procedures set forth in this regulation. A respondent's
opt out will result in the dismissal of the claim without prejudice.
(b) Content of opt-out notification. The respondent's opt-out
notification shall include:
(1) The docket number assigned by the Board and contained in either
the initial notice served by the claimant or the second notice;
(i) The respondent's name;
(ii) The respondent's address;
(2) The respondent's affirmation that the respondent will not
appear before the Board with respect to the claim served by the
claimant;
(3) A certification under penalty of perjury that the individual
completing the notification is the respondent identified in the claim
served by the claimant; and
(4) The typed, printed, or handwritten signature of the respondent,
and if the signature is handwritten, it shall be accompanied by a typed
or printed name.
(c) Process of opting out. Upon being properly served with a notice
and claim, a respondent may complete the opt-out process by--
(1) Completing and submitting the online opt-out notification form
identified in the initial notice and second notice and made available
on the Board's website. An online opt-out is not complete unless a
confirmation code provided with the initial notice or second notice is
included in the submission; or,
(2) Completing the paper opt-out notification form included with
the initial notice and second notice and delivering it to the Board, by
one of the methods described in 37 CFR 222.5(e)(ii)(A) through (D).
(d) Timing of opt-out. The respondent has 60 days from the date of
service or waiver of service to provide notice of its opt-out election.
When the last day of that period falls on a weekend or a Federal
holiday, the ending date shall be extended to the next Federal work
day.
(1) When opting out via the online form under paragraph (c)(1) of
this section, the respondent's opt out notification must be completed
by midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the opt out period.
(2) When opting out under paragraph (c)(2) of this section, the
respondent's opt out notification must be postmarked, dispatched by a
commercial carrier, courier, or messenger, or hand delivered to the
Office no later than the 60 day deadline.
(e) One opt-out per respondent. In claims involving multiple
respondents, each respondent who elects to opt out must separately
complete the opt-out process.
(f) Confirmation of opt-out. When a respondent has completed the
opt-out process, the Board will notify all parties to the proceeding.
(g) Effect of opt-out on refiled claims. If the claimant attempts
to refile a claim against the same respondent(s), covering the same
acts and the same theories of recovery after the respondent's initial
opt-out notification, the Board will apply the prior opt-out election
and dismiss the claim.
(h) Effect of opt-out on unrelated claims. The respondent's opt-out
for a particular claim will not be construed as an opt-out for claims
involving different acts or different theories of recovery.
0
7. Add part 224 to read as follows:
PART 224--REVIEW OF CLAIMS BY OFFICERS AND ATTORNEYS
Sec.
224.1 Compliance review.
224.2 Dismissal for unsuitability.
Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.
Sec. 224.1 Compliance review.
(a) Compliance review by Copyright Claims Attorney. Upon the filing
of a claim or counterclaim with the Board, a Copyright Claims Attorney
shall review the claim for compliance as provided in this section.
(b) Substance of compliance review. The Copyright Claims Attorney
shall review the claim or counterclaim for compliance with all legal
and formal requirements for a claim or counterclaim before the Board,
including:
(1) The provisions set forth under this subchapter;
(2) The requirements set forth in 17 U.S.C. 1504(c), (d), and
(e)(1); and
(3) Whether the allegations in the claim or the counterclaim
clearly do not state a claim upon which relief can be granted.
(c) Issuing finding. Upon completing a compliance review, the
Copyright Claims Attorney will notify the party that submitted the
document in accordance with 37 CFR 222.5 and 17 U.S.C. 1506(f) by--
(1) Informing the claimant or counterclaimant that the claim or
counterclaim has been found to comply with the applicable statutory and
regulatory requirements and instructing the claimant to proceed with
service under 37 CFR 222.5 and 17 U.S.C. 1506(e); or
(2) Informing the claimant or counterclaimant that the claim or
counterclaim, respectively, does not comply with the applicable
statutory and regulatory requirements and identifying the noncompliant
issue(s) according to the procedure set forth in 17 U.S.C. 1506(f).
(d) Clearance is not endorsement. The finding that a claim or
counterclaim complies with the applicable statutory and regulatory
requirements does not constitute a determination as to the validity or
of the allegations asserted or other statements made in the claim or
counterclaim.
(e) No factual investigations. For the purpose of the compliance
review, the Copyright Claims Attorney shall accept the facts stated in
the claim or counterclaim materials, unless they are contradicted by
information provided elsewhere in the materials or in the Board's
records. The Copyright Claims Attorney will not conduct an
investigation or make findings of fact; however, the Copyright Claims
Attorney may take administrative notice of facts or matters that are
well known to the general public, and may use that knowledge during
review of the claim or counterclaim.
Sec. 224.2 Dismissal for unsuitability.
(a) Review by Copyright Claims Attorney. During the review of the
claim under 37 CFR 224.1, the Copyright Claims Attorney shall review
the claim or counterclaim for unsuitability on grounds set forth in 17
U.S.C. 1506(f)(3). If the Copyright Claims Attorney concludes that the
claim should be dismissed for unsuitability, the Copyright Claims
Attorney shall recommend to the Copyright Claims Board that the Board
dismiss the claim and shall set forth the basis for that conclusion.
[[Page 53913]]
(b) Dismissal by the Board for unsuitability. (1) If, upon
recommendation by a Copyright Claims Attorney as set forth in paragraph
(a) of this section or at any other time in the proceeding upon the
suggestion of a party or on its own initiative, the Board determines
that a claim or counterclaim should be dismissed for unsuitability
under 17 U.S.C. 1506(f)(3), the Board shall issue an order stating its
intention to dismiss the claim without prejudice.
(2) Within 30 days following issuance of an order under paragraph
(b) of this section, the claimant or counterclaimant may request that
the Board reconsider its determination. The respondent or counterclaim
respondent may file a response within 30 days following service of the
claimant's request.
(3) Following the expiration of the time for the respondent or
counterclaim respondent to submit a response, the Board shall render
its final decision whether to dismiss the claim for unsuitability.
Dated: September 15, 2021.
Kevin R. Amer,
Acting General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights.
[FR Doc. 2021-20303 Filed 9-28-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-30-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 29, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.