What are the laws regarding copyright infringement on the Internet?
In California, the laws regarding copyright infringement on the Internet are based on the federal Copyright Act of 1976. Under this law, copyright owners are given exclusive rights to reproduce, distribute, perform, and display their works. This means that no one else can use the work without the express permission of the owner. Copyright violations on the Internet can take many forms, such as posting someone else’s copyrighted material online, downloading music or movies and not paying for it, or selling pirated copies of software. All of these are illegal and can lead to serious consequences. If a copyright infringement is detected, the copyright holder may file a lawsuit against the accused. Depending on the case, the accused may be liable for up to $150,000 in damages for each violation. In some cases, it may also be possible to seek an injunction, which would prevent the violator from using the copyrighted material in the future. It is important to remember that the Internet is not a free-for-all, and copyright holders have the right to protect their works from infringement. When using any copyrighted material, make sure to contact the owner and get permission before doing anything with it. Doing so can save you from costly legal trouble.
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