POLICY ON UNAUTHORIZED COPYING OF COPYRIGHTED MEDIA
César Chávez Academy does not condone or tolerate the unauthorized copying of copyrighted media by teachers, staff, or students. The Academy shall adhere to its contractual responsibilities and shall comply with all copyright laws, and expects all members of the Academy community to do so as well. Members of the Academy community who violate this policy may be subject to discipline through standard Academy procedures. An individual or Academy department engaged in the unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials may also face a civil suit, criminal charges, and/or penalties and fines. Subject to the facts and circumstances of each case, such individuals or departments shall be solely responsible for their defense and any resulting liability.
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Summary of Civil and Criminal Penalties for Violation of Federal Copyright Laws
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Copyright infringement is the act of exercising, without permission or legal authority, one or more of the exclusive rights granted to the copyright owner under Section 106 of the Copyright Act (Title 17 of the United States Code). These rights include the right to reproduce or distribute a copyrighted work. In the file-sharing context, downloading or uploading substantial parts of a copyrighted work without authority constitutes an infringement.
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Penalties for copyright infringement include civil and criminal penalties. In general, anyone found liable for civil copyright infringement may be ordered to pay either actual damages or "statutory" damages affixed at not less than $750 and not more than $30,000 per work infringed. For "willful" infringement, a court may award up to $150,000 per work infringed. A court can, at its discretion, also assess costs and attorneys' fees. For details, see Title 17, United States Code, Sections 504, 505.
Willful copyright infringement can also result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment of up to five years and fines of up to $250,000 per offense.
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For more information, please see the Web site of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially their FAQ's at www.copyright.gov/help/faq.