Copyright

Copyright infringement

Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.

Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, in its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.

Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.

For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ's at www.copyright.gov/help/faq

Legal Alternatives

There are many legal alternatives for acquiring copyrighted material. COTC does not endorse nor is responsible for the following, but websites from industry groups offer suggestions on how to access copyrighted material legally. The Motion Pictures Association of American has Watch It Legally for options for movies and TV. The Recording Industry of America maintains Why Music Matters for legal sources for music. COTC students, faculty, and staff also have access to copyrighted materials through subscriptions managed through the library and all Ohio residents are eligible for public library cards from local public libraries with additional resources.

Additional Information

Copyright Help Center: check out the Copyright Help Center at OSU Libraries for information on copyright basics, fair use, plagiarism, and author's rights.

What Is Copyright?: A useful overview of copyright basics.

OhioLink and EJC Acceptable Use Policy: for information about authorized use of OhioLink and EJC.