Eric N. Kohli, an intellectual property lawyer and the current President of the South Asian Bar Association of Las Vegas, will serve as Director of a new copyright law program associated with the United States Copyright Office, UNLV’s Boyd School of Law, and the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada.

The State Bar of Nevada’s Intellectual Property Law Section announced the new pro bono program that will bring Copyright Claims Board (“CCB”) assistance to Nevada. The CCB is a tribunal within the United States Copyright Office. Working with experienced Nevada IP attorneys and students from Boyd School of Law, this new program will expand access to legal assistance for creators, small businesses, and others navigating copyright disputes. The CCB serves as a forum for copyright disputes involving claims of up to $30,000. It offers a streamlined alternative to litigation in federal court. The CCB hears copyright infringement claims, requests for declarations of non-infringement, claims involving Digital Millennium Copyright Act notices, etc. 

Nevada’s initiative builds on the CCB’s nationwide network of pro bono resources. The CCB currently lists 23 clinics representing 22 law schools and 15 pro bono organizations – www.ccb.gov/pro-bono-assistance. Together, these clinics serve 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, while several offer assistance nationwide. Services range from consultations and referrals, to limited-scope representation, to full representation. 

 This new program will support Nevada’s creative community while giving Boyd Law students opportunities to develop practical skills in copyright law. Eric N. Kohli, who is the Vice Chair of the IP Section, will serve as Director of this new program.