Brian Russ Law, Inc. is committed to guiding 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, lawyer Brian recognizes the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with businesses throughout California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you want legal guidance in Alondra Park for copyright issues, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

Unauthorized use of a copyrighted work without the owner's permission is considered copyright infringement. If the work is reproduced, distributed, adapted, or publicly displayed without permission, then copyright infringement has occurred. To ensure creators and authors have control over how their work is used and distributed, copyright law exists. 
Copyright infringement can take many forms, including copying and distributing music, videos, or other media without permission, using someone else's work as your own, or reproducing and selling copies of a copyrighted work without permission. Most copyright infringements are civil offenses, and the copyright owner may pursue monetary damages. 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. 
Before appropriating another's work, it is important to 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. Fair use exceptions are narrow and should not be relied upon unless you are certain that your use is covered. 

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

The matter of copyright infringement should be taken seriously and protected if you are sued. Take these three steps as a starting point: 
First, get legal advice. 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. In this way, you can identify any defenses that may be available to you and plan your response accordingly. 
Third, stop infringing activities if you are engaged in them. 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 Ready to Help Alondra Park Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is easy – call Brian Russ Law, Inc. today. We’re fielding calls 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.