The US House of Representative approved the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act on Tuesday.

The purpose of the CASE Act is, “to establish an alternative dispute resolution program for copyright small claims, and for other purposes.” The act would create a Copyright Claims Board in the Copyright Office to which parties could choose to bring their copyright disputes. The board would function as a small claims court that circumvents the current US District Court proceedings required for copyright infringement cases.

The Copyrights Claims Board would be made up of three Copyrights Claim Officers. The Librarian of Congress would appoint these officers based on recommendations from the Register of Copyrights. Each officer must have at least seven years of legal experience. Additionally, the Register of Copyrights would hire two attorneys with at least three years of copyright legal experience to serve as Copyright Claims Attorneys that assist the board in administrative duties.

Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced the bill, HR 2426, that became the CASE Act in May. The bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary, which reported favorably on the bill early Tuesday. Jeffries moved to suspend rules and hold the passing floor vote later that day.

The Senate received the CASE Act for its consideration on Wednesday.