(a) Content of initial notice. The Board shall prepare an initial notice for the claimant(s) to serve on each respondent that shall—

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(1) Include on the first page a caption that provides the parties’ names and includes the docket number assigned by the Board;

(2) Be addressed to the respondent;

(3) Provide the name(s) and mailing address(es) of the claimant(s);

(4) For any claimant that is represented by legal counsel or an authorized representative, provide the name(s), mailing address(es), email address(es), and telephone number(s) of such legal counsel or authorized representative;

(5) For any claimant that is not represented by legal counsel or an authorized representative, provide the email address and telephone number of that claimant;

(6) Advise the respondent that a legal proceeding that could affect the respondent’s legal rights has been commenced by the claimant(s) in the Board against the respondent;

(7) Identify the nature of the claims asserted against the respondent, which shall consist of at least one of the following:

(i) A claim for infringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. § 106;

(ii) A claim for a declaration of noninfringement of an exclusive right in a copyrighted work provided under 17 U.S.C. § 106; and

(iii) A claim under 17 U.S.C. § 512(f) for misrepresentation in connection with—

(A) A notification of claimed infringement; or

(B) A counter notification seeking to replace removed or disabled material;

(8) Describe the Board, including that it is a three-member tribunal within the Copyright Office that has been established by law to resolve certain copyright disputes in which the total monetary recovery does not exceed $30,000;

(9) State that the respondent has the right to opt out of participating in the proceeding, and that the consequence of opting out is that the proceeding shall be dismissed without prejudice and the claimant shall have to determine whether to file a lawsuit in a Federal district court;

(10) State that if the respondent does not opt out within 60 days from the day the respondent received the initial notice, the proceeding shall go forward and the respondent shall—

(i) Lose the opportunity to have the dispute decided by the Federal court system, created under Article III of the Constitution of the United States; and

(ii) Waive the right to have a trial by jury regarding the dispute;

(11) State that the notice is in regard to an official Government proceeding and provide information on how to access the docket of the proceeding in eCCB;

(12) Provide information on how to become a registered user of eCCB;

(13) State that parties may represent themselves in the proceeding, but note that a party may wish to consult with legal counsel or with a law school clinic, and provide reference to pro bono resources (i.e., legal services provided without charge for those services) which may be available and are listed on the Board’s website;

(14) Indicate where other pertinent information concerning proceedings before the Board may be found on the Board’s website;

(15) Provide direction on how a respondent may opt out of the proceeding, either online or by mail;

(16) In the case of a proceeding in which the claimant has requested under § 222.2(c)(1) that the proceeding be conducted as a smaller claim under 37 CFR part 226, include a statement that the proceeding shall be conducted as a smaller claim and a brief explanation of the differences between smaller claims proceedings and other proceedings before the Board; and

(17) Include any additional information that the Board may determine should be included.

(b) Service of initial notice. Following notification from the Board pursuant to 17 U.S.C. § 1506(f)(1)(A) to proceed with service of the claim, the claimant shall cause the initial notice, the claim, the opt-out notification form, and any other documents required by the direction of the Board to be served with the initial notice and the claim, upon each respondent as prescribed in § 222.5(b) and 17 U.S.C. § 1506(g). The copy of the claim that is served shall be of the claim that was found to be compliant under 37 CFR 224.1, and is, at the time of service, available on eCCB. The initial notice, the claim, the opt-out notification form, and any other document required by the Board shall not be accompanied by any additional substantive communications or materials, including without limitation settlement demands, correspondence purporting to describe the claim or the strength of the claim, or exhibits not filed with the claim, when served by the claimant(s).

[87 FR 17000, Mar. 25, 2022, as amended at 87 FR 30077, May 17, 2022]