A copyright is a type of intellectual property (IP), which is commonly represented by a ©. Copyrights are displayed in films, but also extend to pictures, books, songs, blogs, paintings, podcasts and even software. Once work is displayed or expressed, whether it’s electronic, on paper or a recording, it has copyright protection. To protect it, it doesn’t necessarily require a © symbol, but it’s a good idea to use it. Read on to learn about ccopyright infringement penalties.
Understanding Copyright Laws
People or businesses register their copyright on the U.S. Copyright Office website to protect their original work. However, it only needs to be registered if someone wants to bring legal action in case someone else uses or infringes on the work. People are given the right to use copyrighted work, which requires a different type of license.
Copyright laws help to protect the person or business that created the original work. This prevents people from profiting or using the work without the original person’s permission. This means that the person who owns the work has the authority to control how others use it, and even determine if they don’t want is used in association with someone or something.
For example, a musician copyrights their music and their lyrics. Before someone can cover a song, the artist that holds the copyright must give permission and specify how the song will be used or if it can be used. If an artist recorded the same song without the original artist’s (or copyright holder’s) permission, that artist could then bring legal action against them for copyright infringement and the violator could face copyright infringement penalties. Essentially, copyright infringement is a form of stealing.
Types of Copyright Infringement
Other types of copyright infringement include, but are not limited to:
- Recording movies in a movie theater
- Downloading music or movies without paying for them
- Using someone else’s photographs without permission
- Creating videos and not using authorized music
- Copying software code
- Copying blogs, books or podcasts without permission
To help avoid copyright infringement, keep in mind that if you didn’t create the work, it’s not legally yours to use. Many places specify licensing requirements so if you want to use the work, make sure to read everything – including the fine print that is there for a good reason. If you’re a business owner, educate your employees about copyright infringement so you can avoid costly legal battles.
For more information and examples of copyright infringement, visit Home Telecom: https://www.homesc.com/copyright-infringement