Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved to supporting 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 appreciates the difficulties of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with companies throughout California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you want legal advice in Corona for copyright issues, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when an owner's work is used without their consent. The act of reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying a work without permission constitutes copyright infringement. The purpose of copyright law is to protect the rights of writers, creators, and publishers in order to ensure that how their work is used and disseminated is under their control. 
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 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. 
The copyright of others should be respected and permission sought before using their work. Exceptions to copyright law allow for limited use of copyrighted material without permission, such as fair use for criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. There are, however, a few exceptions to fair use, and you should not rely on them unless you know for sure that your use is permitted. 

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. Follow these three steps to get started: 
First, seek legal advice. If you have been sued for copyright infringement, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. 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. Review the complaint filed against you carefully to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. By doing so, you can identify possible defenses and plan your response accordingly. 
Third, if you are infringing, stop By continuing to violate the law, you can expose yourself to additional liabilities. In some cases, receiving notice of infringing activity puts you in a position of looking like a bad-faith intentional infringer. 

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

The conclusion is simple – 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.