What is a copyright troll?

A copyright troll is someone who claims to own a copyrighted work, such as a song, movie, or software application, but does not actually own the rights to the work. Instead, the copyright troll is seeking to extort money from people who may have allegedly infringed upon the copyright they claim to own. In some cases, copyright trolls may even threaten to sue people who they claim have infringed upon their copyright, even if the person has not actually done so. In Washington, copyright trolls are considered a nuisance, as they often send out numerous cease and desist notices to anyone they believe may be infringing upon their copyright. As such, it is important for those in Washington to understand their rights under copyright law and what to do if they are ever accused of copyright infringement by a copyright troll.

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