Again, violations can result in ugly publicity, extensive litigation, and stiff penalties. Encourage your constituency to use good common sense. Perhaps the simplest and most important guideline to follow regarding the dissemination of information online is to adhere to the regulations governing offline works. Do not hesitate to act. As discussed earlier, U.S. law remains unclear with regard to electronic rights.
Uncertainty can lead to trouble.
If you or anyone in your company learns of an infringement, the best way to avoid any legal hassles is to investigate the allegations immediately. Conduct an inquiry to determine if the claims are plausible. If they are, then a decision can be made to take further action. Doing nothing, however, leaves your company potentially liable under certain interpretations of the law. There is a difference between information that is freely available and information that is available for free.