damages

What are the benefits of federal registration of a trademark?

The primary benefits of federal registration of a trademark (registration with the USPTO) are: Presumptively exclusive right to use the mark anywhere in the United States; Presumption of validity of the trademark; Presumption of the registrant’s exclusive right to use the trademark in connection with specified classes of goods and services; Public notice of an

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Can I be sued for copyright infringement if I didn’t know about the copyright and did not intend to infringe?

Yes. Proof of knowledge of the existence of the copyright is not required to establish liability for copyright infringement, and liability for copyright infringement may exist even in the absence of intent to infringe. Innocent infringement is still infringement, although the amount of damages awarded may be significantly lower in such cases.

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What amount of monetary damages may be awarded for copyright infringement?

Actual damages, including lost profits, may be recovered for copyright infringement if they can be proven. In some cases, a court may require disgorgement of the infringer’s profits. Statutory damages may be recovered without proof of actual damages if certain criteria are met. The amount of statutory damages can range from $750 to $30,000 per

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Is mailing a copy of your work to yourself an adequate substitute for copyright registration?

No. Mailing a copy of your work to yourself is not an adequate substitute for copyright registration. Sometimes called “the poor man’s copyright,” the idea that mailing a copy of a work to yourself can substitute for registration is false and potentially harmful to a copyright owner’s rights. To file an infringement lawsuit in court,

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