Brian Russ Law, Inc. is dedicated to guiding creators 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 recognizes the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with companies throughout the Golden State to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal guidance in Irvington District 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. This can include reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying the work without permission. The purpose of copyright law is to protect the rights of writers, creators, and publishers in order to ensure that how their work is used and disseminated is under their control. 
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. If the work has been infringement, the state of mind of the infringer generally does not matter. 
Before appropriating another's work, it is important to respect their copyright. Fair use for purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research is an exception to copyright law. 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. Take these three steps as a starting point: 
First, seek legal advice. As soon as possible after being sued for copyright infringement, it is important to seek legal advice. 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. Understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement in the complaint that has been filed against you. This will help you identify any defenses that may be available to you and plan your response. 
Third, infringing activity must be stopped. Continuing to infringe can expose you to additional liability. And, to some extent, receiving notice of infringing activity puts you in a position of looking like a bad-faith intentional actor if you continue to infringe after receiving notice. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Ready to Help Irvington District Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is simple – 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.