You've Been Named in a CCB Claim — Now What?
If you've received a notice saying you're a respondent in a CCB case, you have 60 days to decide: do you want to opt out or stay in and participate?
What Happens If You Opt Out?
- You don’t need a reason — just submit the opt-out form within 60 days.
- The CCB may extend that deadline if it seems fair.
- If you opt out, the claim will be dismissed — but the claimant can still sue you in federal court.
If You Stay In the Case
If you don’t opt out (or do nothing), the case becomes "active" and the CCB will give you a schedule of next steps.
Second Notice
The CCB will also send a second notice during the 60-day period, just to make sure you’re informed.
Things to Consider Before You Decide
- No lawyer required: You can represent yourself or use a lawyer/law student.
- Simplified process: Everything is online, and document sharing is limited and focused.
- Lower damages: The most you can be ordered to pay is $30,000 — unlike federal court, which can be much more.
- Copyright disputes only: If you have a separate issue (like a contract dispute), that won’t be handled here.
- Final decisions: If the CCB decides the case, it’s binding — no do-overs in federal court for the same claim.
Waiver of Service
You may be given a "Waiver of Service" form. This lets you skip the formal delivery process. If you agree, you’ll get 30 extra days to respond. You’re not required to sign it, and it doesn’t affect your right to opt out.
If You Stay In: How to Respond
Once your case is active, you'll receive a schedule. The first step is to submit a response (called a "statement") through the eCCB system. This includes your defenses and any counterclaims.
Legal Defenses
The CCB provides a list of common defenses you can select, and tools to help build your response. You can also write in your own defenses.
What’s a Counterclaim?
If you believe the claimant also did something wrong related to the case, you can file a counterclaim at the same time as your response.
- It has to be about the same facts or issue.
- You can’t file totally unrelated claims (you’d need a separate case for that).
- Examples include disagreements over licenses or contracts related to the copyrighted work.
How You’ll Get Updates
Everything happens through eCCB — the CCB’s online portal. You’ll get email alerts whenever something happens in your case.
Still Deciding?
Just remember: opting out removes you from the CCB case — but not from the dispute entirely. The claimant may still take the issue to court.