Brian Russ Law, Inc. is dedicated to advising 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 appreciates the worries 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 need legal advice in Del Mar 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. As a result of copyright law, authors and creators are able to control how their work is used and distributed. 
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. An infringer may be held liable for monetary damages if they commit copyright infringement. 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. 
You should seek permission before using someone else's work and 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. 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?

The matter of copyright infringement should be taken seriously and protected if you are sued. You should take the following three steps first: 
First, you need to retain an attorney. 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, 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. In this way, you can identify any defenses that may be available to you and plan your response accordingly. 
Third, infringing activity must be stopped. By continuing to violate the law, you can expose yourself to additional liabilities. 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 Available to Help Del Mar Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is simple – contact Brian Russ Law, Inc. today. We’re fielding calls 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.