Legal Penalties

The legal penalties for copyright infringement can include the following:

(1) The court can issue an injunction to stop the infringing acts.
(2) The infringer pays the actual dollar amount of damages and losses 17 USC 504(a)(1),
(3) The infrigner pays all profits made by the infringer 17 USC 504(a)(1)
(4) The law provides a range from $200 to $150,000 in Statutory Damages for each work infringed depnding on what the court feels is just 17 USC 504(a)(2), 17 USC 504(c)
(5) The infringer pays for all attorneys fees and court costs. 17 USC 505
(6) The Court can impound or order the destruction of the illegal works. 17 USC 503(a)
(7) If the infringer believed they were doing the right thing (that is, they believed they were covered by fair use or other exemptions) the court may fine as little as $200. 17 USC 504(c)(2) This section also applies to employees of non-profit educational institutions who are working in the scope of their employment. 17 USC 504(c)(2)(i)
(8) If the court finds the copyright violation was willful and for commercial advantage or private financial gain, the infringer can be jailed for up to five years and fined up to $250,000. 17 USC 506.