Legal Concepts Worksheet

Legal Concepts WorksheetConceptApplication of Concept to the Issue of DownloadingReference to Concept in ReadingCriminal Law / Federal LawIllegal download of music or videos is a criminal offence. Copyright law protects the value of creative work.

When you make illegal copies of someone’s creative work, you are stealing and breaking the law. The FBI warning on a movie DVD or VHS cassette applies, with equal force, to music. If you have been illegally reproducing or distributing copyrighted music that is a crime. The FBI warning on a movie DVD or VHS cassette applies, with equal force, to music. If you have been illegally reproducing or distributing copyrighted music that is a crime. Federal law provides severe civil and criminal penalties for the unauthorized reproduction, distribution, rental or digital transmission of copyrighted sound recordings. (Title 17, United States Code, Sections 501 and 506). The FBI investigates allegations of criminal copyright infringement and violators will be prosecuted, (www.freemusicsystemsinformation.com).

Criminal law provides for the people to punish the wrongdoer. Management in a company on probation must prevent violations of federal laws by its employees. (Reed, Shedd, Morehead, & Corley, 2005,PP.288, 314)Patent LawPatents in the United States are governed by the Patent Act (35 U.S. Code), which established the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the USPTO). The most common type of patent is a utility patent, but video creations and some music are now being patented. A case in point is this update on the music recording industry. “Bob Dylan is busy with his radio program "Theme Time Radio Hour" heard on XM Radio. Traditional songs remake such as the "Shaken By a Low Sound," performed by Crooked Still has created a trend in patented music pieces.” (Marcus, 2006, p.1). Patent infringement cases usually prove to be very expensive so they are all mostly settled out of court.Patent law is very complex, as numerous...