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

What Is Copyright Infringement?

An unauthorized use of a copyrighted work is considered infringement. If the work is reproduced, distributed, adapted, or publicly displayed without permission, then copyright infringement has occurred. The purpose of copyright law is to protect the rights of writers, creators, and publishers in order to ensure that how their work is used and disseminated is under their control. 
If you copy and distribute music, videos, or other media without permission, use someone else's work as your own, or reproduce and sell copies of a copyrighted work without permission, you may have committed copyright infringement. Most copyright infringements are civil offenses, and the copyright owner may pursue monetary damages. The infringer's state of mind is generally not relevant to whether the work was copied. Innocent copyright infringement is still infringement. 
The copyright of others should be respected and permission sought before using their work. There are some exceptions to copyright law that allow for limited use of copyrighted material without permission, such as fair use for purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. It is important, however, to verify that your use falls within the scope of fair use exceptions before relying upon them. 

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

Taking steps to protect your interests is important if you are sued for copyright infringement. You should take the following three steps first: 
First, seek legal advice. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been sued for copyright infringement. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and options, and advise you on the best course of action. 
Second, make sure you review the legal complaint that has been served on you. Understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement in the complaint that has been filed against you. By identifying your defenses, you will be able to plan your response. 
Third, stop your infringing activity if you are engaged in infringement. Continuing to infringe can expose you to additional liability. And, to some extent, receiving notice of infringing activity puts you in a position of looking like a bad-faith intentional actor if you continue to infringe after receiving notice. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Excited to Help Alamo Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

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