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, 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 California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you want legal support in Gridley for copyright issues, then you’ve come to the right place.

What Is Copyright Infringement?

An unauthorized use of a copyrighted work is considered infringement. Unauthorized reproductions, distributions, adaptations, or public displays of the work are all examples of copyright infringements. As a result of copyright law, authors and creators are able to control how their work is used and distributed. 
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. An infringer may be held liable for monetary damages if they commit copyright infringement. If the work has been infringement, the state of mind of the infringer generally 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. 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?

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. You should take the following three steps first: 
First, get legal advice. If you have been sued for copyright infringement, it is important to seek legal advice 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, make sure you review the legal complaint that has been served on 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, stop your infringing activity if you are engaged in infringement. If you continue to infringe, you may be exposed to additional liability. As a result, if you continue to infringe after receiving notice that you are infringing, you will appear to be a bad-faith intentional actor. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Excited to Help Gridley 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 lawyer on your team can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you invaluable peace of mind.