Digital access to content has grown over the years. As a result, more individuals now face accusations of illegal downloading. Many people have been sued for downloading movies, music, and other lawfully copyrighted works. The content owners have run the full spectrum from well-known artists to downright fraudsters.
Over the last seven years, WLG has worked with nearly one hundred individuals facing these claims. We no longer see lawsuits that name 30,000 defendants in a single case. However, these cases still appear today. People accused of illegal downloading have the right to understand their rights and explore their options. For years, WLG has proudly offered legal services to those accused of such violations.
Maybe you believed you were receiving the file from someone who owned it, or there was no © mark on what was downloaded, or you cannot confirm any such file was downloaded. While there is no such thing as “good faith” infringement, these factors are important, especially when it comes to damages. Damages can range from $150,000 for willful infringement to $200 for those that are found to have reason to believe they were not committing infringement. Rather than fight the complex copyright troll machine on your own, speak with someone who has experience in these matters.
Three-Point Turn Lesson:
- Potentially being sued in Federal Court is a serious matter and you cannot simply ignore addressing the situation.
- Before you are bullied into paying some large amount to make the problem ‘go away’, you need to understand your rights.
- If necessary, we can explore maintaining your anonymity to resolve these cases on fair terms and let you move forward without a cloud of litigation over your head.
