What is the difference between copyright and copyright infringement?

The difference between copyright and copyright infringement is that copyright is the legal protection of an original work created by an artist or author, while copyright infringement is the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. Copyright law in Virginia is based on the federal Copyright Act, which grants the creator of an original piece of work certain exclusive rights to the work, such as the right to reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, display, and create derivative works based on the original work. Copyright infringement occurs when someone engages in any activity that violates one or more of the exclusive rights of the copyright owner without the permission of the copyright owner. Examples of copyright infringement can include reproducing copies of a work, selling copies of a work without authorization, performing a work in public, or distributing copies of the work over the internet. In Virginia, copyright infringement can result in civil and criminal penalties, including the payment of monetary damages to the copyright holder. Additionally, criminal penalties may be imposed for willful infringement, which includes a fine of up to $250,000, up to one year in prison, or both. Therefore, copyright and copyright infringement are two distinct concepts. Copyright ensures that creators have control over their original works, while copyright infringement is the violation of those rights.

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What is the difference between copyright and copyright infringement?

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