11.2.10 Direct Infringement — Elements is a legal concept that describes the requirements for a person or entity to be held liable for copyright infringement. The elements of direct infringement are as follows: 1. The plaintiff must own a valid copyright; 2. The defendant must have copied the plaintiff's work; and 3. The defendant's copying must be substantial and have occurred in a manner that is actionable under the Copyright Act. There are two types of direct infringement: actual and contributory. Actual direct infringement occurs when a person or entity directly infringes on a copyright by copying, displaying, performing, or distributing a copyrighted work without the permission of the copyright holder. Contributory infringement occurs when a person or entity aids or induces another person or entity to infringe a copyright.