📌 Penalties for Copyright Infringement
1. Civil Penalties
Actual damages: The infringer must pay the copyright holder for proven financial losses caused by the infringement.
Statutory damages (U.S. law, similar in many countries):
Up to $30,000 per work infringed.
Up to $150,000 per work if the infringement is willful.
Injunctions: Courts may order the infringer to stop using the content immediately.
Seizure & destruction: Copies of the infringing material may be confiscated and destroyed.
2. Criminal Penalties (for willful infringement, usually commercial use)
Fines: Can range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Prison sentences: Up to 5 years for first-time offenders, longer for repeat violations.
Restitution: Paying back profits made from illegal use of copyrighted material.
Loss of accounts: Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or Only Fans may suspend or ban repeat infringers.
Reputation damage: Legal disputes can harm the infringer’s brand or career.
