Copyright Overview
Copyright is all about balancing the rights of authors with the rights of the public to use the work without seeking permission or paying royalties. Under copyright, authors have the right to control the use of their work subject to exceptions permitted under the law. If the use exceeds such exceptions, then infringing on someone's copyright can result in the infringer paying money damages (civil liability) and/or going to prison (criminal liability). To understand your rights and responsibilities under the copyright law, review the basics and the exceptions.
Copyright laws are in place to protect the creators of proprietary written works, images, music and a range of other assets. Copyright laws in the United States provide enforcement provisions to ensure compliance with copyright regulations, and the consequences of violating these laws can be costly. Understanding the potential consequences of breaking copyright laws should deter would-be counterfeiters and intellectual-property thieves from taking advantage of other entrepreneurs' creations.
