can any attorney help someone who is fighting copyright infrigement

by Stephon Armstrong 6 min read

If negotiations or mediation break down, the copyright owner probably will need to hire an attorney to help them file a lawsuit. You should look for an attorney who specializes in the area of intellectual property law and who has handled other copyright infringement cases.Oct 18, 2021

Should I hire a lawyer to handle copyright infringement?

If someone has stolen your artwork or website design or plagiarized text from your print or online article, you need to contact a copyright infringement attorney who can get the desired outcome from your case. You may want the website removed, copies of copyrighted content destroyed, or compensation from money earned from your infringed copyrighted materials. Why hire a …

Can a lawyer depose a copyright infringer under oath?

Jul 29, 2021 · The savvy attorneys at Rosenblum Law stand ready to negotiate a just settlement on your behalf and help you put your copyright infringement troubles behind you once and for all. E-mail or call 888-815-3649 for a free consultation.

Is copyright infringement a civil or criminal case?

That's why it is vital to get a copyright lawyer involved immediately upon receiving a copyright infringement letter. A good copyright lawyer can direct the initial response to the first notification of infringement, which sets the tone on how to resolve the accusation in a timely and cost-effective manner.

How can I protect my online service from copyright infringement?

In many cases, an Internet law attorney can help you understand your best approaches to fighting copyright infringement. In a recent case, Grumpy Cat won a $710,001 judgment for copyright infringement. A substantially informative contract, which was breached, was part of what solidified Grumpy Cat’s case.

How do you defend against copyright infringement?

Six steps to protect against copyright infringement claimsDo not copy anything. ... Avoid non-virgin development. ... Avoid access to prior design work. ... Document right to use. ... Negotiate for enhanced warranty and indemnity clauses. ... Document your own work.

What are the three defenses to copyright infringement?

DEFENSES. An accused infringer has various defenses that they may assert. Potential defenses include (i) fair use, 11 (ii) innocent infringement, 12 (iii) abandonment, 13 (iv) laches, 14 (v) statute of limitations, 15 or (vi) material uncopyrightability.

What are 2 examples of work by an artist which can be protected by copyright laws?

The law lists eight categories of works that are protectable by copyright: literary works; musical works; dramatic works; pantomimes and choreographed works; pictorial, graphic and sculptural works; motion pictures and other audiovisual works; sound recordings; and architectural works.Aug 25, 2017

Do copyrights have to be defended?

Do I have to register with your office to be protected? No. In general, registration is voluntary. Copyright exists from the moment the work is created.

Why is copyright important?

At its core, copyright law is meant to expand human knowledge and entertainment.

What is the origin of copyright?

The Origin of Copyright Law. All forms of intellectual property (IP) provide a level of protection and exclusive rights to creators. When looking at each type of protection, however, the argument can be made that copyright is the most extensive.

How long does it take to get a copyright?

However, a more typical processing time is six months. Individuals who don’t submit the appropriate documentation – or have to correspond with the copyright office for some other reason – can see average wait times ranging from 9 months to 20 months.

When did copyright laws start?

Copyright protection in the United States dates back to 1787 and the Copyright Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Is copyright required for a work to be protected?

Registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is the first step in protecting this type of intellectual property. It’s important to note, though, that registration isn’t required for a work to be protected. Any copyrightable material – ranging from poetry to a sculpture of George Washington – is protected the moment it’s been placed in a tangible medium.

What is a copyright notice?

This will typically include a copyright symbol or the word copyright, the year of the work’s first publication and your name or company. Prior to March 1989, all copyrighted works had to include a copyright notice.

How long does it take to file a copyright complaint?

The defendant will need to be served with the complaint. The defendant will then have 21 days to file a response. If they fail to do so, you can seek a default judgment.

How to prove copyright infringement?

To prove copyright infringement, the copyright owner has to show#N#They own a valid copyright, and#N#The other person copied the copyrighted work without permission. 1 They own a valid copyright, and 2 The other person copied the copyrighted work without permission.

What happens if you lose copyright?

Remember that if you lose, you can also be liable for the copyright owner’s attorney’s fees. Going to trial is going to cost the owner far more in attorney’s fees than would a default judgment. Plus, you will have your own costs associated with going to trial.

Is the internet a copyright?

The internet is littered with websites illicitly providing free access to copyrighted material, yet you rarely hear about people actually being caught and punished. While your sense of disbelief might tempt you to simply look the other way, burying your head in the sand will only make things much worse.

Can you sue someone for copyright infringement?

In a copyright infringement case, you would agree to pay the copyright owner, and they would agree to never sue you over the specific instances of copyright infringement that they are accusing you of. Cases are “settled” all the time. People don’t want to go to court if they can help it because it is incredibly expensive ...

What is copyright in literature?

Copyright is a form of protection for original works of authorship, which includes, but is not limited to, "literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture.". Common law copyright protection automatically applies the moment the work is created by the original author.

How long does copyright last?

Copyrights generally expire after 70 years, in the absence of a copyright renewal, after an author or creator's death. Many movies, books, and records from the first half of the 20th century are now available for anyone to use. However, companies should not assume that older works are automatically copyright free.

Is it better to be safe than sorry?

It's far better to be safe than sorry. That's why it is essential to understand and familiarize yourself with the basics of copyright infringement law and what to do next if you find yourself accused of copy infringement .

What is copyright infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses (e.g., copies, sells, distributes, displays) an original work without the express consent or permission of the creator or the copyright holder. It is that simple.

How much is copyright statutory damages?

A copyright owner may be entitled to statutory damages between $750 and $30,000 per infringement. If willful infringement is proven in court, statutory damages can be as high as $150,000 per offense.

Is copyright protection broad?

While copyright protection is broad, not all works are entitled to copyright protection. If usage of the work or the work itself falls under the umbrella of one or many of these exceptions, you may have a valid defense.

What is the reaction to being accused of a crime?

When being accused of a crime, a common knee-jerk reaction may be to reach out to the copyright holder for an explanation or to explain your side of the situation.

Why do we need watermarks?

Watermarks are vital for images, videos, graphics, and other visual mediums . A watermark helps deter unwanted reproduction of your images by letting users know your images are not authorized for reproduction. Registering the copyright.

What happens if you don't copyright your work?

If you do not actually go through the steps to copyright your creation, you may risk losing your ability to arbitrate if the creation is reproduced wrongfully. Typically, there are guidelines for how much time you must file your copyright. Check with the US Copyright Office for specific regulations on your medium.

Is copyright infringement rampant?

Copyright infringement has been an issue for ages, but it’s become more rampant in the Internet age. Everyone trades ideas and creations faster than ever before. But sadly, this means that fewer people take the right precautions in properly sharing the work of others.

Can you stop copyright infringement?

Online copyright infringement can’t entirely be stopped , but with the right approach, you can work to protect yourself. If you are a victim of digital copyright infringement or domain name disputes, please contact our attorneys at Hutcherson Law.

How to file a complaint against the FBI?

There are three ways a complaint made be filed: 1 Complainants may contact their local FBI field office, and the complaint will be properly referred. 2 A complaint may be filed online at the Internet Crime Complaint Center www.ic3.gov and, again, it will be properly routed. 3 Suspected criminal activity of any nature may be reported online at https://tips.fbi.gov and will be routed accordingly.

What is Section 106?

Section 106 of the copyright law provides the owner of copyright in a work the exclusive right: To reproduce the work in copies ; To prepare derivative works based upon the work; To distribute copies of the work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending;

Is copyright a civil matter?

Serving primarily as an office of record, the Copyright Office is not charged with enforcing the law it administers. Copyright infringement is generally a civil matter, which the copyright owner must pursue in federal court.

What is a copyright certificate?

A certificate of registration (or a rejection of an application for copyright) is a prerequisite for U.S. authors seeking to initiate a suit for copyright infringement in federal district court . See Circular 1 Copyright Basics, and sections 410, 411 , and 412 of the copyright law. Please be advised that there is no provision in ...

What is the issue with copyright cases?

One of the main issues in copyright cases is defining whether or not there was “willful” infringement. In many cases the business owner (or individual) simply didn't realize there was unauthorized copies of the copyrighted work, whether the subject of the scuffle is art, photographs on a website, videos, comics, video games, or software.

Does the $200 minimum statutory damage apply?

Not necessarily . At times, the $200 minimum statutory damage award may apply, but the judge is NOT required to keep it to this low level as noted in another federal case in Los Angeles News Serv. v. Tullo, 973 F.2d 791, 800 (9th Cir. 1992) which held: “AVRS claims that because it had a good faith belief in the legality of copying the newscasts containing LANS's copyrighted material, the district court erred by awarding more than minimal damages. AVRS relies on 17 U.S.C. § 504 (c) (2), which provides that “in a case where the infringer sustains the burden of proving, and the court finds, that such infringer was not aware and had no reason to believe that his or her acts constituted an infringement of copyright, the court in its discretion may reduce the award of statutory damages to a sum of not less than $200.” The district court did not find AVRS “ had no reason to believe” its acts did not constitute infringement. Even if the court had so found, § 504 (c) (2) does not mandate a nominal award. On this record, the district court did not abuse its discretion by declining to reduce the award.” So although you always want to fight for the innocence if you are the Defendant, this is not the same as saying you will only face minimal damages for infringement.

What is the burden of proof in copyright cases?

the defendant had no reason to believe that [his] [her] [its] a cts constituted an infringement of the copyright. As the jury instructions note the BURDEN OF PROOF is on the Defendant to show the innocence of their conduct.

What is the UFI motion for summary judgment?

Both UFI and Defendants move for summary judgment on the issue of willfulness. UFI contends that undisputed evidence proves that Defendants' willfully infringed on the Subject Design copyright. UFI points to the evidence that G-III has been a customer of UFI since 2007, and samples of the Subject Design were ordered by G-III on at least three occasions in 2009 and 2010. (Simantob Decl. ¶ 9, Ex. 5.) On the other hand, Defendants argue that there is no evidence of willfulness, and thus the Court should grant summary judgment in Defendants' favor on the issue. ( E.g. Defs' Opp'n 10:24-25.) Defendants contend that UFI's evidence of sampling the Subject Design is irrelevant because the sampling was done by a different division of G-III that has no contact with AM Retail Group. ( Id.) Instead, Defendants move for summary judgment on innocent infringement, arguing that both G-III and McKlein purchased the Accused Products from Cheng Shun Textiles in China on a good-faith reasonable belief that the products were free from any claim of copyright infringement. (Defs' Mot. 8-12.)

What does "willful" mean in copyright?

While the Copyright Act does not define the term "willful," the Ninth Circuit has held that the term means "with knowledge that the defendant's conduct constitutes copyright infringement.".

What is contingency representation?

Contingency legal representation is a great recourse for photographers or artists that don’t have (or don’t want to spend) any out of pocket money to hire an attorney to pursue the copyright infringement of their photos or art. But remember, not all the law firms are the same.

What happens if you use a photo without your permission?

Photographers that promote their work online are likely to suffer from image theft (photo copyright infringement). This occurs when someone uses their photos without their consent.

What to do if you have copyright infringement?

If the copyright infringement was not online, but in a publication, a banner, or any other tangible item, then save the item if possible. If the infringement is, for example, an advertising item such as a magazine, then save that magazine. If you cannot keep the actual item, then take a photo of the infringement with your phone or camera.

What to do when someone steals your photos?

When someone steals your photos, you have many options to deal with the infringement. The best thing to do is to collect evidence of the infringement, then find basic information about the infringer, and finally let an attorney assess your copyright infringement case. If you do it right, it can be a risk-free process.

What is copyright infringement?

Copyright infringement is when a written work has been reproduced, used by someone other than the owner and sold by others as their own work. Through these acts, persons online and through sales are able to obtain the copyright book, manuscript and short stories without needing to adhere to copyright protections.

What happens when you violate copyright?

When a copyright violation occurs, it is important for the owner to pursue action against the person that copied, sold, distributed or stole the information. Through hiring an intellectual property lawyer, these actions are possible. A remedy or compensation may be acquired with this lawyer, and the violator may face other penalties or consequences for his or her actions.

What happens if you use a copyrighted work?

If you have made use of the work under a valid licence, or copyright exception, or the work is in the public domain or is not protected by copyright, then you may not have infringed the rights in the work.

Can you use a copyrighted work without permission?

Use of a copyright work without permission is only recognised if the use falls under a copyright exception. Even if you stop using a work when you are told that it is protected by copyright, the law recognises the rights of the copyright owner during the period that you use the work for.

What is CC 3.0?

Most of the original content on the Copyright User’s website is distributed under a CC-BY 3.0 licence, meaning that you can share, remix, alter, and build upon Copyright User content for any purpose, as long as you credit the author of the content. Where content on Copyright User is not distributed under a CC-BY 3.0 licence, this will be indicated clearly.

Copyright Attorney

  • Our copyright lawyers handle copyright registration, copyright infringement, and copyright litigation matters. Each of these areas is summarized below. If you are interested in a copyright consultation, please contactus today.
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Copyright Registration

  • Registering a copyright with the U.S. Copyright Office is the first step in protecting this type of intellectual property. It’s important to note, though, that registration isn’t required for a work to be protected. Any copyrightable material – ranging from poetry to a sculpture of George Washington – is protected the moment it’s been placed in a tangible medium. If protection immediately exist…
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Copyright Infringement

  • At its heart, copyright infringementis an easy to understand concept. If anyone exploits the creative works of another individual without their permission, they’ve likely committed a copyright violation. Exploitation refers to the act of infringing upon a copyright holder’s exclusive rights – including distributing, performing, displaying or reproducing. There are innumerable ways that s…
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Copyright Litigation

  • Though many copyright infringements are resolved through a cease and desist letter, at times copyright litigationbecomes necessary. There are times when an infringing party will leave you no other choice. The infringer may think they haven’t violated your rights, or an infringer could simply believe you won’t enforce your rights. While you may be tempted to continue negotiating with th…
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Copyright Lawyers – Mandour & Associates

  • It takes years to become an expert in the world of copyright, and with new statutes and judicial precedent being set frequently, it’s easily one of the most complex areas of intellectual property law. This is why you should utilize the assistance of an experienced copyright attorney throughout the process. We have offices throughout southern California in Los Angeles‚ Orange County and …
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