The federal financial package passed by Congress this week includes long-sought legislation that will help those who post copyrighted content on the internet pursue legal action against those who steal their work.
The CASE Act establishes a mediation panel for copyright claims of $30,000 or less. It is considered a win nationwide, but particularly in Maine, which has a large number of independent and individual creators, said Douglas Preston, president of the Authors Guild, which was instrumental in getting the legislation before Congress. By establishing a small claims court in the Copyright Office, the CASE Act finally gives small creators a remedy against the theft of their creative work, which has exploded since the establishment of the internet, Preston, a Maine resident and writer, told Mainebiz. The new law is especially important for Maine, because we are one of the top states for small creators in the country. We have many writers, artists, musicians, photographers,