Brian Russ Law, Inc. is committed to advising corporations and individuals obtain and monetize copyrightable works, and provide defense services for copyright infringement lawsuits. As an author, small business owner, and serial entrepreneur, attorney Brian understands the difficulties of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with folks across California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you are considering legal advice in Agua Dulce for copyright issues, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

A copyrighted work can be viewed as infringed upon if it is used without the permission of the owner. Infringement of copyright can occur through reproduction, distribution, adaptation, or public display. As a result of copyright law, authors and creators are able to control how their work is used and distributed. 
The violation of a copyright can take many forms, including copying and distributing music, videos, and other media without permission, misappropriating someone else's work, and reproducing and selling a copy of a copyrighted work. An infringer may be held liable for monetary damages if they commit copyright infringement. A copyright infringement is still an infringement regardless of the infringer's state of mind. For basic questions of whether a work was infringed, the infringer's state of mind does not matter. 
You should seek permission before using someone else's work and respect their copyright. It is possible to use copyrighted material for teaching, scholarship, research, criticism, news reporting, or fair use without permission in certain situations. There are, however, a few exceptions to fair use, and you should not rely on them unless you know for sure that your use is permitted. 

What Are Your First Three Steps When Sued for Copyright Infringement?

It is important to take steps to protect your interests if you are sued for copyright infringement. Here are the first three steps you should take: 
First, consult a lawyer. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been sued for copyright infringement. You can get legal advice from an attorney to understand your rights and options. 
Second, review the legal complaint that was served on you. Review the complaint filed against you carefully to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. This will help you identify any defenses that may be available to you and plan your response. 
Third, infringing activity must be stopped. Continuing to infringe can put you at risk of additional liability. If you continue to infringe despite receiving notice, you may look like a bad-faith intentional actor. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Available to Help Agua Dulce Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is simple – call Brian Russ Law, Inc. today. We’re fielding inquiries from potential new copyright clients every day. Having an lawyer on your team can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you invaluable peace of mind.