Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved to guiding businesses 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 feels the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with businesses throughout the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal advice in Camarillo for copyright issues, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of a copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright owner. This can include reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying the work without permission. 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. 
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. Copyright infringement is usually a civil offense, and the owner can seek damages for the 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. 
Using others' work must be done with permission and with respect for their copyright. It is possible to use copyrighted material for teaching, scholarship, research, criticism, news reporting, or fair use without permission in certain situations. 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?

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, you need to seek 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. 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, if you are infringing, stop You can expose yourself to additional liability by continuing the infringement. As a result, if you continue to infringe after receiving notice that you are infringing, you will appear to be a bad-faith intentional actor. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Ready to Help Camarillo Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is easy – contact 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.