[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 248 (Thursday, December 30, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74394-74398]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28154]


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 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 248 / Thursday, December 30, 2021 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 74394]]


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Copyright Office

37 CFR Parts 201, 232, and 234

[Docket No. 2021-9]


Copyright Claims Board: Representation by Law Students and of 
Business Entities

AGENCY: U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Copyright Office is issuing a notice of proposed 
rulemaking to establish procedures governing the appearance of law 
student representatives and employees of business entities in 
proceedings before the Copyright Claims Board.

DATES: Initial written comments must be received no later than 11:59 
p.m. EDT on February 3, 2022. Written reply comments must be received 
no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on February 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: For reasons of Government efficiency, the Copyright Office 
is using the Regulations.gov system for the submission and posting of 
public comments in this proceeding. All comments are therefore to be 
submitted electronically through regulations.gov. Specific instructions 
for submitting comments are available on the Copyright Office website 
at http://copyright.gov/rulemaking/case-act-implementation/representation/. If electronic submission of comments is not feasible 
due to lack of access to a computer or the internet, please contact the 
Office using the contact information below for special instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Efthimiadis, Assistant to the 
General Counsel, by email at [email protected], or by telephone at 
202-707-8350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    On December 27, 2020, the President signed into law the Copyright 
Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (``CASE'') Act of 2020.\1\ The 
CASE Act directs the Copyright Office to establish the Copyright Claims 
Board (``CCB''), an alternative forum to federal court in which parties 
may seek resolution of copyright disputes that are capped at a lower 
economic value.\2\ The CCB has authority to hear copyright infringement 
claims, claims seeking a declaration of non-infringement, and 
misrepresentation claims under section 512(f) of title 17.\3\ 
Participation in the CCB is voluntary for all parties,\4\ and all 
determinations are non-precedential.\5\
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    \1\ Public Law 116-260, sec. 212, 134 Stat. 1182, 2176 (2020).
    \2\ See, e.g., H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 18-20 (2019); S. Rep. 
No. 116-105, at 1-3 (2019). Note, the CASE Act legislative history 
cited is for H.R. 2426 and S. 1273, the CASE Act of 2019, a bill 
nearly identical to the CASE Act of 2020. See H.R. 2426, 116th Cong. 
(2019); S. 1273, 116th Cong. (2019).
    \3\ 17 U.S.C. 1504(c)(1)-(3). The CCB cannot issue injunctive 
relief, but can require that an infringing party cease or mitigate 
its infringing activity in the event such party agrees and the 
agreement is reflected in the proceeding's record. Id. at 
1504(e)(2)(A)(i), (e)(2)(B). This provision also applies to parties 
making knowing material misrepresentations under section 512(f). Id. 
at 1504(e)(2)(A)(ii).
    \4\ Id. at 1504(a); see H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17, 21; S. 
Rep. No. 116-105, at 3, 11.
    \5\ 17 U.S.C. 1507(a)(3); see H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 21-22, 
33; S. Rep. No. 116-105, at 14.
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    The CASE Act directs the Register of Copyrights to establish the 
regulations by which the CCB will conduct its proceedings, subject to 
the provisions of chapter 15 and relevant principles of law under title 
17.\6\ The Office has issued a notification of inquiry (``NOI''),\7\ 
three notices of proposed rulemaking (``NPRMs''),\8\ and one final rule 
\9\ related to CCB procedures. In this notice of proposed rulemaking, 
the Office proposes procedures governing qualified law students who 
represent parties in CCB proceedings and procedures governing 
representation of corporations, limited liability companies, 
partnerships, sole proprietorships, or other unincorporated 
associations (collectively, ``business entities'').
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    \6\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(a)(1).
    \7\ 86 FR 16156 (Mar. 26, 2021).
    \8\ 86 FR 49273 (Sept. 2, 2021), 86 FR 53897 (Sept. 29, 2021), 
and 86 FR 69890 (Dec. 8, 2021).
    \9\ 86 FR 46119 (Aug. 18, 2021).
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II. Proposed Rule

    Under the CASE Act, a party before the CCB may be represented by 
``a law student who is qualified under applicable law governing 
representation by law students of parties in legal proceedings and who 
provides such representation on a pro bono basis.'' \10\ Consistent 
with Congress's directive to develop a system that is accessible to 
``those with little prior formal exposure to copyright laws,'' \11\ the 
Office is committed to facilitating law student representation through 
law school clinics, which play an important role in providing expanded 
legal access to often underserved members of the public.\12\
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    \10\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(d)(2).
    \11\ H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 17.
    \12\ Ilana Kowarski, How to Gauge the Strength of Law School 
Clinics, U.S. News & World Report (Apr. 12, 2018), https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-law-schools/articles/2018-04-12/how-to-gauge-the-strength-of-law-school-clinics 
(``[A] law school clinic will often perform significant public 
service projects, such as representing indigent legal clients who 
cannot afford to pay for legal representation.'').
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    In response to the NOI, one group of commenters suggested that the 
Office adopt regulations establishing standards for law student 
representation, such as enrollment in good standing at an American Bar 
Association (``ABA'')-certified law school, participation in a law 
school clinic focused on copyright, and supervision by an attorney who 
takes responsibility for the student's work.\13\ The comments also 
suggested that the Office maintain a public database of participating 
law school clinics and include a summary of the law student 
representation program's activities as part of the Register's annual 
report to Congress.\14\ The Office has considered these suggestions as 
set forth below.
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    \13\ Copyright Alliance, Am. Photographic Artists, Am. Soc'y for 
Collective Rights Licensing, Am. Soc'y of Media Photographers, The 
Authors Guild, CreativeFuture, Digital Media Licensing Ass'n, 
Graphic Artists Guild, Indep. Book Pubs. Ass'n, Music Creators N. 
Am., Nat'l Music Council of the United States, Nat'l Press 
Photographers Ass'n, N. Am. Nature Photography Ass'n, Prof. 
Photographers of Am., Recording Academy, Screen Actors Guild-Am. 
Fed. of Television and Radio Artists, Soc'y of Composers & 
Lyricists, Songwriters Guild of Am. & Songwriters of N. Am. Initial 
NOI Comments at 43-45.
    \14\ Id.
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    To assess the ``applicable law'' that would govern any law students 
appearing before the CCB, the Office surveyed regulations pertaining to 
law student representation in several

[[Page 74395]]

jurisdictions that handle a large volume of copyright claims or are 
geographically close to the Office. Common eligibility requirements for 
students include enrollment at an ABA-accredited law school,\15\ 
completion of a minimum period of legal studies,\16\ completion of 
relevant coursework,\17\ the party's written consent to the student's 
representation,\18\ and certification by the student's law school 
dean.\19\ These jurisdictions also require supervision by an attorney, 
who must be a member of the bar \20\ and generally must assume 
professional responsibility for the student's activity,\21\ which 
includes assistance with and approval of the student's work.\22\ The 
Office believes that some of the provisions discussed above provide 
appropriate guidance and, as discussed in more detail below, has 
incorporated many of these requirements into the proposed rule. To make 
law clinic representation widely available to parties before the CCB, 
some of the requirements in the proposed rule are slightly more lenient 
than those imposed by some of the surveyed states.\23\ However, under 
the proposed rule, law students still must meet the requirements 
imposed by the state in which they are certified, if such requirements 
exceed those established by the proposed rule.
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    \15\ Cal. R. Ct., R. 9.42(c)(1); Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 711(a)(2); 
Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 10.03(c)-(d); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(b)(1); 
Md. R. 19-220(a)(1), (b)(1); Va. Sup. Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 
15(b)(i)(a).
    \16\ Cal. R. Ct., R. 9.42(c)(1) (one full year); N.Y. Comp. 
Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22, sec. 805.5(f) (2017) (two semesters); Ill. 
Sup. Ct. R. 711(a)(1) (one-half of the total hourly credits required 
for graduation); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 10.03(d)(1) (one-half of the 
required curriculum for graduation); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(b)(2) (one-
third of legal studies); Md. R. 19-220(c)(1) (one-third of the total 
credit hours required to complete the law school program); Va. Sup. 
Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(b)(ii)(a) (four semesters).
    \17\ Cal. R. Ct., R. 9.42(c)(3) (evidence and civil procedure); 
Va. Sup. Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(b)(iii) (criminal law, 
professional ethics, evidence, and procedure).
    \18\ N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22, sec. 805.5(c) (2017); 
Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 711(c); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(a)(1); Va. Sup. Ct. R. 
pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(a)(iii).
    \19\ Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 711(e); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 
10.03(d); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(b)(3); Md. R. 19-220(c); Va. Sup. Ct. 
R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(b)(iii).
    \20\ Cal. R. Ct., R. 9.42(a)(2); N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. 
tit. 22, sec. 805.5(e) (2017); Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 711(c); Tenn. Sup. 
Ct. R. 7, sec. 10.03(h)(3)(A); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(e)(4); Md. R. 19-
220(a)(4); Va. Sup. Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(d)(i).
    \21\ Cal. Rules of State Bar R. 3.6(B)(3); N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & 
Regs. tit. 22, sec. 805.5(e) (2017); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 
10.03(h)(3)(C); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(e)(2); Md. R. 19-220(d); Va. 
Sup. Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(d)(ii).
    \22\ Cal. Rules of State Bar R. 3.6(B)(5); N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & 
Regs. tit. 22, sec. 805.5(e) (2017); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 
10.03(g)(2), (h)(3)(C); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(e)(3); Md. R. 19-220(d); 
Va. Sup. Ct. R. pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(d)(iii).
    \23\ For example, the proposed rule requires that the name of 
the supervising attorney appear on all documents signed by the law 
student representative, while some jurisdictions require that the 
supervising attorney sign all documents. See, e.g., Cal. Rules of 
State Bar R. 3.6(B)(5); Ill. Sup. Ct. R. 711(c)(2)(ii), (v); Tenn. 
Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 10.03(g)(2); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(d)(2). The 
proposed rule also only requires the supervising attorney to 
accompany the law student representative to hearings on the merits, 
barring leave, and does not require the supervising attorney to 
accompany the law student representative to conferences, though some 
jurisdictions require the supervising attorney to accompany the law 
student representative to a broader range of appearances before a 
tribunal. See, e.g., Cal. R. Ct., R. 9.42(d)(2), (3) (requiring 
supervising attorney's presence at depositions and hearings); N.Y. 
Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 22, sec. 805.5(b)(2), (3), (5), (6) 
(2017) (requiring supervising attorney's presence at appearances 
pertaining to criminal matters and to family and other contested 
civil actions); Tenn. Sup. Ct. R. 7, sec. 10.03(h)(2) (requiring 
supervising attorney's presence at administrative and adjudicatory 
proceedings); D.C. Ct. App. R. 48(d)(1), (3) (requiring supervising 
attorney's presence at appearances before tribunals and at oral 
arguments, except that the eligible student may appear before the 
tribunal without the supervising attorney's presence if the matter 
is not contested and with the tribunal's consent); Va. Sup. Ct. R. 
pt. 6, sec. IV, 15(a)(i) (requiring supervising attorney's presence 
at appearance before courts or administrative tribunals).
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    Accordingly, the Office proposes to create a structure for law 
student representation that encourages both participation by law school 
clinics and transparency. The proposed rule addresses the threshold 
eligibility requirements for law students to appear before the CCB; the 
expectations for practice by law students and their supervising 
attorneys while participating in CCB proceedings; and the creation of a 
public directory of clinics that are available to accept clients 
appearing before the CCB.

A. Law Student Representation Eligibility Requirements

    The proposed rule permits representation by qualified law students 
affiliated with qualifying law school clinics. It incorporates the 
requirements for law student representation provided by the law of the 
jurisdiction that certifies the student to practice in connection with 
a law school clinic. The law student also must meet an appropriate 
standard of competence,\24\ by completing the first year of law school 
study and receiving formal training in either CCB procedures or 
copyright law. Law student representation before the CCB must be on a 
pro bono basis.
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    \24\ Model Rules of Prof'l Conduct R. 1.1 (Am. Bar Ass'n 1983) 
(``Competent representation requires the legal knowledge, skill, 
thoroughness and preparation reasonably necessary for the 
representation [of a client].'').
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    The proposed rule also sets forth additional requirements for the 
law student representative and supervising attorneys during the course 
of representation before the CCB. Many of these provisions are based on 
the findings of the state law survey, including that clients must 
consent in writing to the law student's representation and that law 
student representatives must be supervised by an attorney. Under the 
proposed rule, supervising attorneys are responsible for confirming law 
student representatives' eligibility under applicable law and CCB 
regulations. Supervising attorneys are also responsible for overall 
case management, including ensuring that there is continuity of 
representation in any active proceedings during law school term 
transitions.
    The proposed rule requires that both the law student representative 
and the supervising attorney file notices of appearance in the case 
(and notices of withdrawal, including if the identity of either the law 
student representative or the supervising attorney changes during the 
course of a proceeding). Law student representatives may not file 
documents with the CCB without the supervising attorney's knowledge, 
and the supervising attorney must maintain an account in the CCB's 
electronic file management system to track the law student 
representative's filings. Any document signed by the law student 
representative must include the name of the supervising attorney, and 
the supervising attorney must accompany the law student representative 
to hearings on the merits, unless the CCB grants leave for the law 
student representative to appear without the supervising attorney. The 
proposed rule does not require the supervising attorney to accompany 
the law student representative to conferences.
    Under the proposed rule, both supervising attorneys and law student 
representatives are bound by the CCB's standards of conduct governing 
parties and their representatives. The supervising attorney has 
responsibility for the law student representative's actions, and the 
CCB may hold the supervising attorney responsible for the law student 
representative's activity.
    The Office invites comments on whether the proposed regulations 
strike a proper balance between ensuring that law student 
representatives are properly qualified and supervised and minimizing 
burdens on supervising attorneys or clinics, which could diminish the 
availability of clinical representation for parties in CCB proceedings. 
The Office is particularly interested in any comments concerning 
whether a law student should have a minimum amount of formal training 
in copyright law or in appearing before the CCB; whether supervising 
attorneys

[[Page 74396]]

should be required to appear at hearings on the merits; whether the 
supervising attorney's appearance should also be required at 
conferences; and whether documents submitted to the CCB must be signed 
by both the supervising attorney and the law student representative.

B. Law School Clinic Directory

    The proposed rule provides for the creation of a public directory 
of law school clinics actively accepting clients for CCB 
representation. The Office anticipates that there will be a large 
number of pro se (i.e., self-represented) participants in CCB 
proceedings who are appearing before an adjudicatory body for the first 
time. While the goal of the CCB is to provide streamlined, easy-to-
understand proceedings, such that parties may appear without an 
attorney,\25\ the Office wants to ensure that participants have as much 
access to available resources and legal support as possible. To that 
end, the proposed rule provides the opportunity for law school clinics 
to self-identify when they are available to represent clients before 
the CCB. The directory will include contact information for, and the 
geographic availability of, the clinic; the nature of the clinic's 
experience with copyright and litigation matters; and a description of 
the clinic's interest in handling CCB matters. Requiring this 
information for directory inclusion is intended to provide participants 
the means of making an informed decision regarding possible law student 
representation. The Office will make this information publicly 
available on the condition that the clinic certifies that its students 
are eligible to practice before the CCB and provides the required 
information to assist a participant in evaluating whether 
representation is available and appropriate. Clinics will have a duty 
to keep their information up to date, and a listing may be removed at 
the CCB's discretion.
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    \25\ 17 U.S.C. 1506(d) (noting that parties may be represented, 
but representation is not required); see H.R. Rep. No. 116-252, at 
17 (``Parties may appear pro se.''); S. Rep. No. 116-105 at 4 
(noting that ``parties may wish to proceed pro se'').
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    The CASE Act's legislative history suggests that the Office look to 
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Law School Clinic Certification 
Program (``USPTO Program'') when considering how to encourage law 
student representation before the CCB.\26\ The USPTO Program consists 
of a complex multi-year process that requires an application by an 
interested law school clinic, review and acceptance into the program, 
USPTO monitoring over a training year, and reporting and renewal 
requirements.\27\ The USPTO Program has grown since it was established 
in 2008, and now over sixty clinics in approximately thirty states are 
certified to have law students appear before the USPTO.\28\ The program 
is run by five designated legal staff members within the USPTO's Office 
of Enrollment and Discipline.\29\ The majority of the clinics in the 
USPTO Program represent applicants seeking patent or trademark 
registrations, and not parties involved in proceedings before the 
Patent Trial and Appeal Board or Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. 
Given the fact that practice before the CCB does not require the same 
type of technical expertise, the Office has adopted those aspects of 
the USPTO Program that are appropriate for the CCB. In light of the 
CCB's overall obligations in commencing operations, the Office has 
proposed a program which is feasible in light of its currently 
available resources. In the interest of making pro bono resources 
widely known and easily accessible, the Office proposes gathering 
information similar to information acquired through the USPTO Program 
\30\ and making it publicly available for participants to review and 
assess. The Office believes that the proposed requirements would allow 
new clinics located in areas where there are fewer legal resources to 
participate in the CCB's program, and would allow clinics to be 
available to represent clients soon after the start of CCB operations. 
The rule proposed by the Office requires law school clinic directors to 
certify that the clinic meets all legal obligations under applicable 
state law prior to inclusion in the public directory. The Office 
believes that the training in copyright law or practice before the CCB 
that is required in the regulations will be most valuable to the 
participating law students. After the CCB has become further 
established, the Office will reconsider whether more robust 
requirements should be imposed for law clinic certification.
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    \26\ S. Rep. No. 116-105 at 4.
    \27\ See generally U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Law School 
Application Packet 2020-2022 Expansion, https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2020-2022-Law_School_Application_Packet-May-2021.pdf (``USPTO Application'') (last visited Dec. 10, 2021).
    \28\ U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO Law School Clinic 
Certification Program, https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USPTO_Law_School_Clinic_Certification_Program_Participating_School_Map-Oct2020.pdf (last visited Dec. 10, 2021).
    \29\ U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Law School Clinic 
Certification Program, https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-policy/public-information-about-practitioners/law-school-clinic-1 
(identifying five staff attorneys assigned to the Law School Clinic 
Program) (last visited Dec. 10, 2021).
    \30\ See, e.g., USPTO Application at 22-25 (requesting 
information about experience handling trademark and patent matters 
and requiring law school clinics and supervising attorneys to 
undertake various responsibilities regarding the law students they 
supervise).
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    The Office seeks comments on whether the directory as proposed is 
sufficient to allow participants to make an informed decision regarding 
whether and where to seek clinic representation. The Office also seeks 
comments regarding appropriate outreach strategies for encouraging law 
school clinic participation.

C. Representation of Business Entities

    Finally, the proposed rule addresses the issue of who will be 
authorized to represent business entities, which include corporations, 
limited liability companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships, 
before the CCB, and what kind of representation is required. 
Longstanding practice in federal court requires that a business 
entities appear with representation of counsel.\31\ Other 
jurisdictions, however, provide greater flexibility, particularly in 
the small claims context. In the Small Claims and Conciliation Branch 
of the Civil Division of the Superior Court of the District of 
Columbia, for instance, a corporation may appear as a plaintiff only 
when represented by counsel, but as a defendant, it may be represented 
by an authorized officer, director, or employee.\32\ In Virginia small 
claims court, a corporation or partnership may be represented by an 
officer or an employee of that entity. In fact, it may be represented 
by an attorney only when the attorney is entering an appearance to 
remove a case to general district court.\33\ In contrast, when 
appearing in a Virginia general district court, a corporation must be 
represented by an attorney, unless the amount in controversy is $2500 
or less, the party is a private corporation whose stock is held by no 
more than five persons, and all stockholders consent to an officer 
providing representation.\34\ In Maryland, an officer, designated 
employee, partner, or member of a limited liability company may appear

[[Page 74397]]

on behalf of the entity in the District Court of Maryland, so long as 
the action is a small claims action and is not based on an assignment 
to the entity of the claim of another.\35\
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    \31\ Rowland v. California Men's Colony, Unit II Men's Advisory 
Council, 506 U.S. 194, 201-02 (1993) (``It has been the law for the 
better part of two centuries, for example, that a corporation may 
appear in the federal courts only through licensed counsel.'').
    \32\ D.C. Sup. Ct. Small Cl. R. 9(b); D.C. Ct. App. R. 
49(c)(11).
    \33\ Va. Code Ann. 16.1-122.4 (2021). An attorney may represent 
a corporate or partnership plaintiff or defendant, but only if they 
are appearing pro se and not in a representative capacity. Id. at 
16.1-122.4(A)(1).
    \34\ Id. at 16.1-81.1; see id. at 16.1-88.3 (generally 
prohibiting non-attorneys from litigating cases in Virginia courts).
    \35\ Md. Code Ann., Bus. Occ. & Prof. 10-206(b)(4) (2021).
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    Given the small claims nature of the CCB and the interest in 
facilitating participation before it, the proposed rule resembles the 
practices in some state small claims courts rather than the federal 
system. A business entity may be represented by an attorney, fiduciary, 
or authorized employee in a CCB proceeding. Representatives must 
certify that they are authorized to represent and bind the entity; if 
the representative is an employee, the employee must also submit 
written proof of that authorization. The Office welcomes comments on 
this proposed framework.

List of Subjects

37 CFR Part 201

    Copyright, General provisions.

37 CFR Part 232 and 234

    Claims, Copyright.

Proposed Regulations

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the U.S. Copyright Office 
proposes to amend Chapter II, Subchapters A and B, of title 37 Code of 
Federal Regulations, as proposed to be amended at 86 FR 69890 (December 
8, 2021), as follows:

SUBCHAPTER A--COPYRIGHT OFFICE AND PROCEDURES

PART 201--GENERAL PROVISIONS

0
1. The authority citation for part 201 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702.
    Section 201.10 also issued under 17 U.S.C. 304.

0
2. In Sec.  201.2, revise paragraph (a)(2) to read as follows:


Sec.  201.2  Information given by the Copyright Office.

    (a) * * *
    (2) The Copyright Office does not furnish the names of copyright 
attorneys, publishers, agents, or other similar information to the 
public, except that it may provide a directory of pro bono 
representation available to participants in proceedings before the 
Copyright Claims Board.
* * * * *

SUBCHAPTER B--COPYRIGHT CLAIMS BOARD AND PROCEDURES

PART 232--CONDUCT OF PARTIES

0
3. The authority citation for part 232 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.

0
4. Add Sec.  232.6 to read as follows:
* * * * *


Sec.  232.6  Representation of business entities.

    (a) Definition. For the purpose of this section, a business entity 
is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, sole 
proprietorship, or unincorporated association.
    (b) Appearance of a business entity. A business entity may appear 
before the Copyright Claims Board (``Board'') through: (1) A member in 
good standing of the bar of the highest court of a State, the District 
of Columbia, or any territory or commonwealth of the United States;
    (2) A law student who meets the requirements set forth in 37 CFR 
234.1;
    (3) An owner, partner, officer, or member of the business entity; 
or
    (4) An authorized employee.
    (c) Certification. Someone appearing before the Board to represent 
a business entity pursuant to paragraphs (b)(3) or (4) of this section 
shall certify that they are an authorized agent of the business entity 
and may bind that entity in matters pending before the Board. If the 
representative qualifies only as an authorized employee under paragraph 
(b)(4) of this section, then within 30 days of the authorized 
employee's initial appearance, the representative also must submit 
written authorization, signed by an owner, partner, officer, or member 
of the business entity under penalty of perjury, stating that the 
representative may bind that entity on matters pending before the 
Board.
    (d) Subject to standards of professional conduct. Representatives 
of business entities who appear pursuant to paragraphs (b)(3) or (4) of 
this section are equally subject to the standards of conduct set forth 
in 37 CFR 232.1 as any other party representative.
0
5. Part 234 is added to read as follows:

PART 234--LAW STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES

Sec.
234.1 Law student representatives.
234.2 Law school clinic directory.

    Authority:  17 U.S.C. 702, 1510.


Sec.  234.1   Law student representatives.

    (a) Eligibility for appearance. (1) State law compliance. Any law 
student who is affiliated with a law school clinic, is qualified under 
applicable laws governing representation by law students of parties in 
legal proceedings, and meets the other requirements of this paragraph 
may appear before the Copyright Claims Board (``Board''). Applicable 
law is the law of the jurisdiction that certifies the student to 
practice law in conjunction with a law school clinic.
    (2) Pro bono representation. Any law student who appears before the 
Board must provide representation on a pro bono basis.
    (3) Competency. Law student representatives must meet a standard of 
competency. For the purpose of appearances before the Board, competency 
includes successful completion of:
    (i) The first year of studies at an American Bar Association-
accredited law school; and
    (ii) A copyright law course, formal copyright law training, or 
formal training in Board procedures.
    (b) Client consent. The law student representative shall have the 
written consent of the client for the law student to appear on that 
client's behalf.
    (c) Attorney supervision. A law student who represents a party in a 
proceeding before the Board shall be supervised by an attorney who is 
qualified under applicable law governing representation by law 
students, as specified in paragraph (a) of this section. In supervising 
the law student, the attorney shall adhere to the requirements of 37 
CFR 232.5.
    (d) Confirmation of eligibility. In accordance with the standards 
of professional conduct set forth in paragraph (j) of this section, the 
attorney supervising the work of the law student representative is 
responsible for confirming the law student's eligibility to appear 
before the Board as set forth in paragraph (a) of this section.
    (e) Identification of supervising attorney in documents. The name 
of the supervising attorney shall appear on all documents signed by the 
law student representative.
    (f) Notice of appearance. In any proceeding in which a law student 
represents a party, a notice of appearance shall be filed pursuant to 
37 CFR 232.5(a) identifying both the law student representative and the 
supervising attorney.
    (g) Filing documents. All filings by a law student representative 
shall be made with the knowledge of the supervising attorney, who shall 
maintain an association with the law student representative in the 
electronic filing system. The supervising attorney shall maintain their 
own account, in addition to the law student's account, in

[[Page 74398]]

the electronic filing system to track law student filings. A notice of 
withdrawal shall be filed whenever the identity of a law student 
representative or a supervising attorney has changed.
    (h) Appearance at hearings. The supervising attorney shall 
accompany the law student representative to hearings held in accordance 
with 37 CFR 222.15, absent leave of the Board for the law student to 
appear without the presence of the supervising attorney.
    (i) Responsibility for continuity of case management. The 
supervising attorney shall be responsible for all aspects of case 
management, including appearances and withdrawals, as well as 
continuity of representation during law school term transitions.
    (j) Applicability of rules of professional conduct. Law student 
representatives are equally subject to the standards of conduct set 
forth in 37 CFR 232.5 as any other attorney representatives. The 
supervising attorney has professional responsibility for the actions of 
the law student representative. The Board may hold supervisory 
attorneys responsible for law student representative activity.


Sec.  234.2  Law school clinic directory.

    (a) Publicly available directory. The Board shall make a directory 
available on its website of law school clinics that have advised the 
Board that they are available, on a pro bono basis, to represent 
clients in proceedings before the Board.
    (b) Form for inclusion. To be included in the public directory, the 
law school clinic director shall submit a form providing the following 
information for public dissemination:
    (1) The name of the participating law school;
    (2) The name of the participating clinic;
    (3) The name of the director of the clinic;
    (4) A general contact email address and phone number;
    (5) The geographic area from which the clinic may accept clients;
    (6) Whether the clinic has handled copyright matters in the past 
two years;
    (7) The nature of any copyright matters handled by the clinic in 
the past two years;
    (8) Whether the clinic has experience in handling litigation 
matters;
    (9) If the clinic does not have litigation experience, whether the 
clinic has a partnership with a litigation clinic;
    (10) A brief statement describing the clinic's interest in handling 
matters before the Board; and
    (11) A certification that student representatives participating in 
the clinic will meet all requirements of 37 CFR 234.1(a).
    (c) Standards for inclusion. Subject to paragraph (d) of this 
section, the Board will accept for inclusion in the public directory 
any law school clinic that certifies that its law student 
representatives will meet all requirements of 37 CFR 234.1(a) and 
provides sufficient information pursuant to paragraph (b) of this 
section for participants in Board proceedings to evaluate whether 
representation is available and appropriate.
    (d) Removal from directory. The Board may, in its discretion, 
remove a clinic from the directory if it determines that the clinic is 
not suitable for representing clients before the Board, including, 
without limitation, if it determines that the clinic has failed to 
properly update its information in the public directory.
    (e) Duty to update directory. Participating clinics have a duty to 
maintain current information in the directory and shall confirm the 
currency of the information on an annual basis.

    Dated: December 22, 2021.
Kimberley Isbell,
Acting General Counsel and Associate Register of Copyrights.
[FR Doc. 2021-28154 Filed 12-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1410-30-P