Copyright Infringement on the Internet: How to Fight It

If you belong to the following categories of people, then the term “ copyright infringement” should not be strange to you. People like a musician, artists, filmmakers, writers, or creators of any original work must have been familiar with copyright infringement. 

Some have fallen victim to the infringers already, and some are still loading; it’s not funny anyway because lots of money has been lost at the hands of copyright infringers. 

Despite the bold act of the U.S. to fight against copyright infringement by enacting the Copyright Act of 1970 to protect people’s creative work, this could not stop the culprits from jeopardizing people’s efforts. The act of copyright infringement still continues and gets stronger every now and then.

The question now is, how do we fight copyright infringement? What are the ways to protect one’s intellectual property from online theft? The answers in this article. 

Understanding Internet Copyright Infringement

Internet copyright infringement, often referred to as piracy, is the unauthorized use, distribution, or copying of protected material on the Internet. Unlike tangible property, intellectual property is intangible, making it particularly vulnerable to theft in the digital environment. 

It’s pertinent to have the full understanding that copyright law protects original works, and that includes literature, music, films, and software, granting the creator exclusive rights to their use and distribution.

In the digital sphere, infringement can occur in various ways – from downloading or streaming unauthorized copies of movies, music, or software to using someone’s work on your website without their permission. Even sharing copyrighted materials with friends, family, or colleagues can constitute infringement. 

Knowing the basics of copyright law is the first step to combat this issue. It’s important to realize that most content found online is automatically protected by copyright law, even if there’s no explicit copyright notice attached. 

If you want to use someone else’s work, you’ll typically need their permission unless your usage falls under ‘fair use.’ Defining ‘fair use’ can be complex and varies case by case, but it generally covers uses that are not likely to impact the original work’s market value negatively. 

By understanding internet copyright infringement, we’re equipped to respect others’ creative work and guard our own against unauthorized use.

The Legal Consequences of Internet Copyright Infringement

Talking about the legal outcome of anyone involved in copyright infringement, we can say this can be somewhat difficult to say, and this is due to the fact the laws that govern different countries differ.

However, we can generally agree that the legal consequences will depend on how severe or the damages course by the infringer. For instance, 10 years of imprisonment maximum can be awarded to anyone involved in serious commercial infringement. 

Furthermore, in the U.S., 17 U.S. Code § 504 on the remedy for infringement stated that the sum of 750 to 30,000 can be awarded as a reward for statutory per infringed work.

On the other way round, the infringers may be banned from further use of the infringed materials, and in situations whereby there is repeated use of infringed material even after being warned, the infringer may be jailed.

The whole of the matter is that there are degrees of penalty that will be given to any corporation or individuals that infringe upon someone else’s intellectual material.

How to Detect Copyright Infringement

First, we should understand that identifying copyright infringement takes some detective work, which can be a tough job to do manually or use some “petty” methods, rather than entrusting the job to advanced technology such as software that can help detect and report websites for copyright infringement.

With this software, companies can forget about issues related to infringement, and the tool ensures that none of your company’s intellectual material can be infringed upon.

Here are steps you can take to determine if someone has infringed upon your creative work:

• Monitor online listings and postings: Keep an eye on social media, e-commerce sites, and other platforms where individuals may share or sell your copyrighted material without permission.
• Use image recognition tools: If your creative work is visual in nature (e.g., photographs), use image recognition software to identify any unauthorized duplicates or uses of the image.
• Conduct regular searches: Regularly search for relevant terms related to your copyrighted material using search engines such as Google or Bing.
• Consider using plagiarism detection tools: These tools can compare content from different sources and detect similarities that could indicate potential infringement.
• Hire professionals: If you suspect copyright infringement, it may be beneficial to seek the help of a professional, such as a lawyer or investigator who specializes in intellectual property.

Fighting Copyright Infringement on the Internet

If intellectual property belonging to your business—like original artwork, trademarks, or logos—is being used without authorization, you can be facing copyright infringement. 

It is now simpler for people to share and use copyrighted content without the required authorization in the digital age, which makes it more difficult for businesses to safeguard their intangible assets.

Nonetheless, there are actions you may take to spot and stop online copyright infringement.

The Role of Technology

One way to combat copyright infringement is by using technology. Technology has been useful for us in many ways that we can hardly see any sectors that technology has not touched. Health, educational,  transportation, and financial sectors are just some of the areas that technology has revolutionized.  

There are various software out there that companies or businesses of any size can bank on to identify and shoot down any website that trespasses on intellectual property violations.

This software fights copyright infringement by scanning through the internet to detect any similar content or images that match your company’s creative works.  It doesn’t stop there; after detecting the infringed content, it can automatically send a cease and desist letter or take legal action against the infringer.

All the processes of scanning to reporting and takedown happen within seconds, saving your company valuable time and resources. 

Consider Involving a Law Practitioner

Consulting a qualified legal representative who is experienced in handling matters similar to this is an additional option to employ while battling intellectual property infringement. They can guide you through the legal system and protect your company’s interests because they have the experience and knowledge necessary.

They might help you gather evidence of copyright infringement and provide advice on the appropriate course of action given the specifics of your firm. A lawyer can also negotiate with infringers on your behalf for compensation or royalties if they are found guilty of copyright infringement. Note that this can cost you more than using technology.

Educate Your Employees

Another way to protect your company’s intellectual property is by educating your employees. Many times, copyright infringement can happen unknowingly within the company itself.  For instance, an employee may use an image or content without proper attribution or permission.  

Also, this often happens during film shooting, whereby a member of the crew and one of the actors take a short video with their mobile phone and upload it on their social handles. This indicates that anyone can copy or use the content on any platform, and it is no longer exclusive.

Employees will comprehend the significance of properly acquiring permission before utilizing any images or information in company documents and will be more aware of copyright rules after receiving training on the subject. This will shield the intellectual property of your business and avoid any legal problems.

Wrapping Up

The rate at which internet-related fraud keeps increasing is alarming, and this is a warning signal to entrepreneurs and businesses. It is vital to take steps to protect your intellectual property, as it is a valuable asset for any company.

We have highlighted some essential ways to protect your company’s intellectual property. By following the steps mentioned in the article,  you can safeguard your ideas, products, and information from copyright infringement. 

So don’t wait until it’s too late – start implementing these strategies today and secure the future of your business!