CASE Act: Implications for college and research libraries

In December 2020, Congress passed the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act, a law that aims to “provide an efficient and user-friendly option to resolve certain copyright disputes” by ostensibly creating an alternative venue for creators to bring copyright infringement claims outside the federal courts. Participation in small-claims proceedings are voluntary, but respondents must make an affirmative choice to opt-out. The CASE Act generates significant implications for college and research libraries, the library workers employed therein, and the stakeholders served by these libraries, including academic researchers, teaching faculty, and students.