Professional Photographers of America Backs Small Claims Procedure as top Copyright Priority

The Professional Photographers of America is backing proposals to create a “small claims option” for adjudicating copyright infringement cases as the association’s top copyright-related legislative priority for 2016, said Copyright and Government Affairs Coordinator Lindsey Forson in a Tuesday blog post. The Copyright Office and the Department of Commerce’s Internet Policy Task Force have backed the creation of a separate small claims copyright court (see 1601280065). PPA CEO David Trust met with House IP Subcommittee Vice Chairman Doug Collins, R-Ga., and other House Judiciary members last week on copyright issues, Forson said. Several House Judiciary Committee members have indicated that addressing copyright small claims cases is among their “desired accomplishments” in the committee’s ongoing Copyright Act review, Forson said. PPA’s other copyright priorities for 2016 include modifying the current copyright registration process “to improve participation and functionality” and modernizing the CO.