Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved to guiding 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, attorney Brian understands the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with folks across California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal support in Fillmore 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. If the work is reproduced, distributed, adapted, or publicly displayed without permission, then copyright infringement has occurred. To ensure creators and authors have control over how their work is used and distributed, copyright law exists. 
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 copyright owner can seek monetary damages from the infringer. 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. 
Before appropriating another's work, it is important to respect their copyright. In addition, there are some exceptions to copyright laws, such as fair use by critics, news reporters, teachers, scholars, or researchers. It is important, however, to verify that your use falls within the scope of fair use exceptions before relying upon them. 

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. A copyright infringement lawsuit should be addressed as soon as possible by seeking legal advice. You can get legal advice from an attorney to understand your rights and options. 
Second, read the legal complaint you received. Understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement in the complaint that has been filed against you. By doing so, you can identify possible defenses and plan your response accordingly. 
Third, stop your infringing activity if you are engaged in infringement. If you continue to infringe, you may be exposed to 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 Excited to Help Fillmore 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 attorney on your team can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you invaluable peace of mind.