Brian Russ Law, Inc. is dedicated to advising 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, lawyer Brian gets the worries of business owners and individuals when they think about and try to understand copyright law. Brian works with people across California to address common issues like copyright registration, fair use analysis, licensing decisions, and more. If you need legal advice in Laguna 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. The act of reproducing, distributing, adapting, or publicly displaying a work without permission constitutes copyright infringement. It protects the rights of creators and authors, and ensures that their work can be used and distributed in the way that they choose. 
The violation of a copyright can take many forms, including copying and distributing music, videos, and other media without permission, misappropriating someone else's work, and reproducing and selling a copy of a copyrighted work. In most cases, copyright infringement is a civil offense, and the copyright owner can seek monetary damages from the infringer. A copyright infringement is still an infringement regardless of the infringer's state of mind. For basic questions of whether a work was infringed, the infringer's state of mind does not matter. 
You should seek permission before using someone else's work and respect their copyright. There are some exceptions to copyright law that allow for limited use of copyrighted material without permission, such as fair use for purposes of criticism, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. However, fair use exceptions are narrow and should not be relied upon unless you are certain that your use falls within their scope. 

What Are Your First Three Steps When Sued for Copyright Infringement?

The matter of copyright infringement should be taken seriously and protected if you are sued. You should take the following three steps first: 
First, consult a lawyer. A copyright infringement lawsuit should be addressed as soon as possible by seeking legal advice. A lawyer can help you understand your rights and options, and advise you on the best course of action. 
Second, you need to review and understand the legal complaint made against you. Carefully review the complaint that has been filed against you to understand the specific allegations of copyright infringement. Your response will be guided by identifying any defenses you may have available. 
Third, stop infringing activities if you are engaged in them. Continuing to infringe can expose you to additional liability. If you continue to infringe after receiving notice of infringing activity, you may appear to be acting in bad faith. 

Brian Russ Law, Inc. is Here to Help Laguna Businesses and Individuals with Copyright Law Matters

The conclusion is simple – 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.