Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved to helping 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 gets the difficulties of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with companies across the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you are considering legal advice in Brentwood 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. Unauthorized reproductions, distributions, adaptations, or public displays of the work are all examples of copyright infringements. Copyright law exists to protect the rights of creators and authors, and to ensure that they are able to control how their work is used and disseminated. 
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. In most cases, copyright infringement is a civil offense, and the copyright owner can seek monetary damages from the infringer. The infringer's state of mind is generally not relevant to whether the work was copied. Innocent copyright infringement is still infringement. 
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. You should, however, only rely on fair use exceptions if you are certain your use falls within their scope. 

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. Take these three steps as a starting point: 
First, consult a lawyer. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been sued for copyright infringement. The advice of a lawyer can help you understand your rights and options. 
Second, read the legal complaint you received. Understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement in the complaint filed against you. 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 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 Available to Help Brentwood Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is straightforward – 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.