Brian Russ Law, Inc. is dedicated to helping companies 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 understands the difficulties of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with corporations throughout California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal support in Bonny Doon 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. This can include reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying the work without permission. 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. In most cases, copyright infringement is a civil offense, and the infringer can be sued for monetary damages. Innocent copyright infringement is still infringement. The infringer's state of mind generally does not come into play for basic questions of whether the work was infringed. 
Before appropriating another's work, it is important to respect their copyright. In addition, there are some exceptions to copyright laws, such as fair use by critics, news reporters, teachers, scholars, or researchers. However, fair use exceptions are narrow and should not be relied upon unless you are certain that your use falls within their scope. 

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

In the event that you are sued for copyright infringement, you should take the matter seriously and take the steps necessary to protect your rights. Here are the first three steps you should take: 
First, get legal advice. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been sued for copyright infringement. A lawyer can explain your rights and options to you, and advise you on the best course of action. 
Second, you need to review and understand the legal complaint made against you. Understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement in the complaint filed against you. 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. You can expose yourself to additional liability by continuing the infringement. 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 Bonny Doon 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 attorney on your team can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you invaluable peace of mind.