The Copyright Claims Board (CCB) was created as an alterntaive to filing claims in district court.

The Copyright Claims Board can hear cases that involve:

• Infringement
• Non-Infringement
• DCMA Misrepresentation Cases

It is important to note that the CCB cannot do everything that the district court can do. In fact there are significant differences that a claimant should consider before deciding to use the CCB to place a claim. As noted above, the CCB can only hear cases for infringement, non-infringement, and DMCA misrepresentation.

Because the CCB is meant to be the small claims court of copyright cases, the amount in damages are limited. Specifically, the total amount the CCB can award is $30,000. However, if seeking statutory damages in statutory cases is $15,000 per work. Additionally, the CCB does not make a determination about wilfull infringement -- thus capping any additonal damages that would be available.

The CCB generally does not award attorney fees.

The CCB does not have the power to stop an infringer from infringing on you work. If you want to seek injunctive relief, you must do so through federal district court.