The Copyright Claims Board
A Progress Report
The Copyright Claims Board is an innovative government tribunal in the Copyright Office to resolve copyright disputes involving claims with a value of up to $30,000. It was established by legislation enacted in 2020 following years of study and consultation with stakeholders. Since it opened its doors in June 2022, over 700 cases have been filed with the board. David Carson, one of three members of the board, will discuss its progress so far, providing information on who has filed cases, how they have been resolved, how to succeed before the board, and how you can play a role in advising parties.
David O. Carson is a member of the Copyright Claims Board (CCB) in the U.S. Copyright Office. The CCB, consisting of three Copyright Claims Officers, was established pursuant to the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act of 2020 (CASE Act) to provide an efficient and user-friendly forum to decide lower-monetary value copyright disputes for participants who have opted to have them resolved by the Board.
Prior to joining the CCB, he headed the Copyright Policy Team in the Office of Policy and International Affairs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (2014-2021) and was executive vice president for global legal policy at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (2012-2014). From 1997 through 2012, he served at the Copyright Office as General Counsel for thirteen years and Associate Register for Policy and International Affairs for two years. Earlier in his career, Carson practiced at leading copyright law firms in New York City and Los Angeles. He has served as a trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA and on the board of directors of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and Stanford University.
