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ARTICLES
Penalties for Copyright Infringement
The general public has been forced to think more than ever about copyright laws in recent years due to a changing landscape in both the academic world and the music industry. Technological advances have made it easier than ever to locate and obtain many different forms of copyrighted materials. This has created something like a virtual “Wild West” in which people are willing to play fast and loose with the rule of law because they either expect immunity because of the frequency of violations or just figure that they will not be caught. This is a risk that your business simply cannot bear.
To speak with an experienced Minneapolis business lawyer about the appropriate and acceptable use of another party’s copyrighted materials, contact Skjold ▪ Barthel, P.A. at 612-746-2560. We can help you to protect yourself from potential litigation by advising you about the often confusing realm of intellectual property law.
Vindication for Violations
Just as it has grown easier to track down copyrighted material, so too has it grown easier to incorporate others’ thoughts and ideas into what is otherwise largely your own work. Without proper credit and other measures, this can derail a promising idea. And, ironically, the parallel technological developments have increased the ability of law enforcement agencies to track down copyright violators. When caught, offenders face penalties including the following:
- Injunctions against the sale of infringing goods
- Impounding of all documents that contain another’s copyrighted material
- Actual monetary damages (such as what would have been required for licensing)
- Statutory damages measuring thousands of dollars per offense
- Court costs and legal fees
Contact Us
The Minneapolis business lawyers of Skjold ▪ Barthel, P.A. are committed to helping you to understand the letter of the law and the interpretations established by precedent so that you will not find your company the subject of a lawsuit for infringing on a copyright. Contact us at 612-746-2560.