Brian Russ Law, Inc. is dedicated to helping 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, attorney Brian recognizes the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with people across the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you want legal guidance in Channel Islands Beach 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. The act of reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying a work without permission constitutes copyright infringement. To ensure creators and authors have control over how their work is used and distributed, copyright law exists. 
It is illegal to copy, distribute, sell, or reproduce copyrighted works without permission. This includes sharing music, videos, or other media without permission. Most copyright infringements are civil offenses, and the copyright owner may pursue monetary damages. If the work has been infringement, the state of mind of the infringer generally does not matter. 
The copyright of others should be respected and permission sought before using their work. 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, seek legal advice. 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, make sure you review the legal complaint that has been served on you. Carefully review the complaint that has been filed against you to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. 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 put you at risk of additional liability. If you continue to infringe after receiving notice of infringing activity, you may appear to be acting in bad faith. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Here to Help Channel Islands Beach 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.