The main 'physical' copyright offences (ss. 107(1), 107(2), (107(3), 198(1), 296ZB, 297 and 297A of CDPA 1988) carry a ten-year maximum penalty but the provisions governing online infringement (ss.
Anyone found to have infringed a copyrighted work may be liable for statutory damages up to $30,000 for each work infringed and, if willful infringement is proven by the copyright owner, that amount may be increased up to $150,000 for each work infringed.
Defenses to Copyright Infringement Claims Fair use doctrine. Proof the work was independently created and not copied. Innocence (proving there was no reason to believe the work was copyrighted) The use is with a license agreement in place (this can shift liability to the licensor)
Generally speaking, the copyright holder starts with a cease and desist letter sent to the infringer. They may request monetary damages, an explicit provision of credit to the copyright holder, removal of the infringing work, or other remedies.
In many patent suits, patent holders seek injunctive relief to prevent an accused infringer from continuingto practice the patented invention. Whether an injunction can be granted depends on various considerations a judge may weigh under her equitable powers.
Monetary Damages A successful plaintiff in a copyright infringement action is entitled to one of two basic kinds of monetary remedies: (1) actual damages or (2) statutory damages.
Example: Cease and Desist A cease and desist order places an injunction on a company or person prohibiting the activities that are deemed suspect. A cease-and-desist order may take the form of a temporary injunction until a trial can be held to determine the outcome or a permanent injunction after the trial concludes.
Your attorney will start the lawsuit by filing a complaint in the appropriate court and serving it on the infringer. They probably will file a response to the complaint, and then the case will move forward through the process of gathering evidence and preparing for a trial.
One remedy is injunctive relief, which restrains the defendant from future copying of the work. A preliminary injunction can be sought early in the case to restrain copying during the lawsuit.
7 Steps on How to Handle Copyright Infringement Step 1: Recognize Unauthorized Use. Step 2: Gather Pieces of Evidence. Step 3: Understand Your Rights. Step 4: Take Prompt Action. Step 5: Seek Legal Action. Step 6: Communicate with the Infringer. Step 7: Prevent Future Infringement.