Attention all artists and creators! There’s an important amendment on the table that could have a significant impact on individual artists and small creative businesses. Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Tom Marino (R-PA) are pushing for legislation that aims to address copyright infringement issues in a more affordable and accessible way. It’s time for every artist to rally behind this amendment and show their support!

Imagine the horror of having your hard work stolen, only to find out that filing a claim and hiring a lawyer would cost you thousands of dollars. It’s a nightmare scenario that can discourage many artists from seeking justice. But with the proposed Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement Act (CASE Act) H.R. 3945, there’s hope for a more cost-efficient method of copyright enforcement.

CASE ACT H.R. 3945

The CASE Act, introduced in the House on October 4th, 2017, is now being considered by the House Judiciary Committee. This act represents a small but significant step in the right direction for creatives. Its primary goal is to establish a small copyright claims tribunal within the Copyright Office, providing a simpler and more affordable avenue for artists to protect their work.

Under H.R. 3945, individual artists and businesses will have the option to represent themselves, hire an attorney, or seek pro-bono assistance from qualified law students. Copyright Claims Officers, appointed to handle these proceedings, will adhere to federal law. It’s important to note that larger copyright infringements will still be handled in regular courts.

Here are some key points regarding the bill:

• The statute of limitations for filing a claim is three years from the infringement.
• A small fee of at least $100 will be associated with filing a claim.
• The claim will be heard by a tribunal consisting of two copyright attorneys and one copyright arbitrator.
• Before filing a claim, the copyright owner must provide the tribunal with a completed registration application filed with the Copyright Office or a certificate of registration.
• If the work was registered prior to the infringement, the maximum number of statutory damages recoverable is $15,000.
• If the work was not registered prior to the infringement, the maximum amount of statutory damages recoverable is $7,500.

Additionally, there’s a possibility that this bill will be combined with others into an omnibus bill, which could address more copyright-related issues simultaneously.

To take action and support this bill, you can reach out to your local representative. The Graphic Artist Guild has provided several methods to make your voice heard:

Action Steps

Option 1: Use the web portal at copyrightdefense.com/action.

Option 2: Utilize the Add Your Voice portal on the Copyright Alliance website.

Option 3: Make use of Facebook’s Townhall feature.

Don’t miss this opportunity to support a small yet crucial step in the right direction for artists’ rights. Let’s come together and advocate for legislation that helps protect our creative endeavors. You can view the full text of the bill here.

Join the movement and call your local representative today! Together, we can make a difference and ensure a fairer copyright enforcement system for all.