How do I report copyright infringement?

If you believe a work of yours in Washington is being infringed upon, you can report it to the U.S. Copyright Office by sending a signed statement identifying the work, alleging the infringement, and stating the contact information of the alleged infringer. Once the Copyright Office receives the statement, it will contact the alleged infringer to confirm whether an infringement has taken place. After the investigation is complete, the Copyright Office will issue a report of its findings. If the Copyright Office finds that an infringement has occurred, it may provide a formal notice of the infringement to the alleged infringer. This notice will typically include information about how the infringement can be addressed. If the Copyright Office finds that the infringement is willful, it may refer the matter to the Department of Justice, which could pursue criminal or civil penalties. It is important to note that, while reporting an infringement may result in the violation being addressed, it will not automatically give you any kind of financial compensation. To receive financial compensation, you must file a copyright infringement lawsuit in a federal court. To do this, you will need to hire an attorney and gather evidence of the infringement, including information about the timely registration of your work.

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