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ARTICLE · 09 MAY 2024

Seven Copyright Myths Debunked

Romano Law
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Copyright is an interesting but complex area of law. This complexity has led to many misconceptions about copyright.

United StatesIntellectual Property
Matthew Fulton
Matthew Fulton

Copyright is an interesting but complex area of law. This complexity has led to many misconceptions about copyright. In this article, we will debunk seven common copyright misconceptions to help clarify this fascinating area of law.

"If It's On The Internet, It's Free To Use." – FALSE

A common myth is that anything found on the internet is free for the taking. This is far from the truth. Public accessibility of content does not inherently grant permission for its use. Most content is protected by copyright law, and unless the work is clearly in the public domain, the safest course is to assume that the creator holds the rights. If one inadvertently uses registered material, a court may grant damages ranging from $750 to $30,000 per work. This amount increases to $150,000 if the court finds that the infringement was "willful."

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