Thanks for the update on the criminal side of copyright infringement. Didn't know that part.
James
At 09:08 AM 1/14/2007 -0800, you wrote:
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U.S. Copyright Law {Title 17 U.S.C. Section 101 et seq., Title 18 U.S.C. Section 2319} Federal law protects copyright owners from the unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, performance, display or distribution of copyright protected works.
Penalties for copyright infringement differ in civil and criminal cases. Civil remedies are generally available for any act of infringement without regard to the intention or knowledge of the defendant, or harm to the copyright owner. Criminal penalties are available for intentional acts undertaken for purposes of "commercial advantage" or "private financial gain." "Private financial gain" includes the possibility of financial loss to the copyright holder as well as traditional "gain" by the defendant.
Where the infringing activity is for commercial advantage or private financial gain, sound recording infringements can be punishable by up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines. Repeat offenders can be imprisoned for up to 10 years. Violators can also be held civilly liable for actual damages, lost profits, or statutory damages up to $150,000 per work."
Intellectual Property or copyright infringement is still being defined. As it is an issue of ideas with far reaching consequences and/or ramification, it is not as legally defined with numerous centuries long laws most countries have defined as stated above. Federal Law protects copyright owners from the unauthorized reproduction, adaptation, performance, display or distribution of copyright protected works such as an original photograph or a legally defined percentage of said photograph that is obviously taken from its creator by another for any act of infringement without regard to the intention or knowledge of the defendant, or harm to the copyright law."
Whereas Copyright Laws pertain to digitally reproduced materials such as musical recordings, films, photographs, Written Materiaal (that has a registered copyright with the US Government Copyright Office) here is but one of thousand of presently legally defined aspects of copyright - this example adressing:
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