When does Copyright Infringement become Criminal?
Channel: Steve Vondran
Date: 2023-05-16

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WHEN DOES COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT BECOME CRIMINAL IN NATURE?

Copyright infringement is more than just a civil matter and can even become a criminal offense. When a person's infringement becomes willful and is for commercial purposes, it can be prosecuted as criminal infringement. The FBI guidelines define criminal infringement as the act of reproducing, distributing, or displaying copyrighted material for the purpose of commercial advantage or private financial gain. This means that individuals who purposely steal someone else's work for profit can be held criminally responsible. Software piracy is a common type of criminal infringement, where individuals make and distribute illegal copies of software for personal financial gain. It's important to understand that copyright infringement can have serious legal consequences, especially when it rises to the level of criminal activity.