Brian Russ Law, Inc. is resolved to supporting 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 appreciates the struggles 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 need legal guidance in Imperial 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. It protects the rights of creators and authors, and ensures that their work can be used and distributed in the way that they choose. 
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 infringer can be sued for monetary damages. If the work has been infringement, the state of mind of the infringer generally does not matter. 
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?

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, you need to seek legal advice. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible if you have been sued for copyright infringement. You can get legal advice from an attorney to understand your rights and options. 
Second, review the legal complaint that was served on you. Review the complaint filed against you carefully to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. By identifying your defenses, you will be able to plan your response. 
Third, stop your infringing activity if you are engaged in infringement. 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 Ready to Help Imperial Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is easy – 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.