Recent Announcements
NOTE: The CRB has a system for viewing filings online called eCRB. eCRB went live on June 17, 2017. Some CRB filings dated June 16, 2017, or earlier are available through eCRB. Eventually, all CRB filings will be there.
April 9, 2025
The Librarian of Congress appointed Judge Christina L. Shifton as Interim Chief Copyright Royalty Judge while the Library works to fill the term vacated upon the retirement of Judge David Shaw
Judge Shifton is a Section Research Manager in the American Law Division of the Congressional Research Service, covering intellectual property law. Before joining CRS, Judge Shifton practiced as a litigator in private practice, representing clients in patent and copyright matters at the trial and appellate levels in state and federal courts, in administrative fora, and in arbitration. Her intellectual property experience focused on patent and copyright law including infringement, validity, and ownership issues, the calculation of damages and royalty awards, interpretations of statutory provisions, and appellate review. Before her work as a litigator, she served as an Appellate Court Attorney with the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division, where she provided confidential analyses to the court’s justices.
More AnnouncementsAbout Us
The Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004 (CRDRA) established the Copyright Royalty Judges program in the Library of Congress. The Copyright Royalty Judges (Judges) oversee the copyright law’s statutory licenses, which permit qualified parties to use multiple copyrighted works without obtaining separate licenses from each copyright owner.
The Judges determine and adjust royalty rates and terms applicable to the statutory copyright licenses. They also oversee distribution of royalties deposited with the Copyright Office by certain statutory licensees and adjudicate controversies relating to the distributions.
The Judges are appointed by the Librarian of Congress to serve staggered six-year terms. Each may be reappointed to subsequent six-year terms.
Under the CRDRA, each judge must have a law degree and at least seven years’ legal experience. In addition, one judge must have significant knowledge of copyright law, one must have significant knowledge of economics, and one must have a minimum of five years’ judicial or quasi-judicial experience. The board of Judges consists of Christina Shifton, (interim chief judge), Judge David R. Strickler (economics), and Judge Steve Ruwe (copyright).
Christina ShiftonInterim Chief Copyright Royalty Judge
David R. StricklerCopyright Royalty Judge
