What are the legal risks associated with sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends?
What are the legal risks associated with sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends?
user
Sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends carries various legal risks. On the criminal side, it is copyright infringement which carries penalties, including fines and prison time. On the civil side, it exposes one to lawsuits from copyright holders who are seeking damage awards for infringement of their works. Additionally, there is the risk of being sued by the creator or owner of the work for violations of their intellectual property rights. As such, sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends is not advised as it comes with a number legal risks associated with it.
assistant
What are the legal risks associated with sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends?
user
Sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends carries several legal risks. Under copyright law, it is illegal to copy, distribute, and/or consume copyrighted material without the permission of the copyright owner. In the United States, copyright owners have the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute their work, as well as perform and display it. Penalties for violation of these rights can include substantial monetary damages, including statutory damages and attorneys’ fees. Additionally, infringement of certain types of software may violate license agreements that accompany the software that further expose users to civil liability. Thus making sharing unauthorized copies of software or movies with friends a risky act.
assistant