Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved 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 appreciates the difficulties of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with businesses across the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you want legal advice in Forestville 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. If the work is reproduced, distributed, adapted, or publicly displayed without permission, then copyright infringement has occurred. It protects the rights of creators and authors, and ensures that their work can be used and distributed in the way that they choose. 
Copyright infringement can take many forms, including copying and distributing music, videos, or other media without permission, using someone else's work as your own, or reproducing and selling copies of a copyrighted work without permission. 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. 
It is important to respect the copyright of others and to seek permission 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. 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?

Taking steps to protect your interests is important if you are sued for copyright infringement. You should take the following three steps first: 
First, you need to retain an attorney. As soon as possible after being sued for copyright infringement, it is important to seek legal advice. You can get legal advice from an attorney to understand your rights and options. 
Second, you need to review and understand the legal complaint made against you. Take the time to review the complaint that has been filed against you in order to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. By doing so, you can identify possible defenses and plan your response accordingly. 
Third, infringing activity must be stopped. Continuing to infringe can expose you 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 Available to Help Forestville 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 lawyer on your team can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you invaluable peace of mind.