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 understands the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with people throughout the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal advice in Echo Park 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. Infringement of copyright can occur through reproduction, distribution, adaptation, or public display. 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. 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. 
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. Fair use exceptions are narrow and should not be relied upon unless you are certain that your use is covered. 

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. In the event that you have been sued for copyright infringement, you should obtain legal counsel as soon as possible. It is important to speak with a lawyer to understand your rights and options, and to determine what course of action is best for you. 
Second, you need to review and understand the legal complaint made against you. 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, if you are infringing, stop Continuing to infringe can put you at risk of additional liability. 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 Here to Help Echo Park 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.