Copyright Infringement
The creators of original works of art have the exclusive right to control how their works are made available to the public. If you are the creator of a song, recording, story, photograph, video or other artistic work that was used without your permission you may have a copyright infringement claim.
What is Copyright Infringement?
Copyright Infringement exists whenever a copyright owner’s exclusive copyrights are violated. The exclusive copyrights provided by the Copyright Act include:
- Reproduction
- Distribution
- Public Performance
- Derivative Works
- Public Display
For example, if your music was sampled, used in a TV show, film or commercial, copied, or in any way used without your permission, you may have a claim for copyright infringement.
Who is liable for Copyright Infringement?
Anyone that uses a work without the consent of the copyright owner is liable for copyright infringement. This may include a record label, another artist or even a store that sells unauthorized copies of the recordings and songs.
What Money Damages are Available for Copyright Infringement?
The Copyright Act provides for a range of money damages as a remedy for copyright infringement. These money damages may include:
- Statutory Damages
- Actual Damages
- Attorneys’ Fees
- Costs
If you believe that you may have a copyright infringement claim, contact the attorneys at Schwartz, Ponterio & Levenson, PLLC today at 917.338.3879 to see how we can help you protect your copyrights and recover monetary damages from infringers.
