. Violation of these laws can lead to fines and jail time. Criminal copyright laws have been a part of U.S. laws since 1897, which added a misdemeanor penalty for unlawful performances if "willful and for profit". Criminal penalties were greatly expanded in the latter half of the twentieth century, and those found guilty of criminal copyright infringement may now be imprisoned for decades, and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Criminal penalties, in general, require that the offender knew that he or she was committing a crime, while civil copyright infringement is a strict liability offense, and offenders can be "innocent" (of intent to infringe), as well as an "ordinary" infringer or a "willful" infringer.

History 
In 1787, the Founding Fathers of the United States wrote the Copyright Clause into the U.S. Constitution, which granted the United States Congress the power, “[t]o promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” Copyright grants a limited monopoly to authors over the production and dissemination of their creative expression to incentivize further creative production. Protection is constitutionally limited in duration and scope to prevent detrimental monopolies on culture. The copyright protection written into the Constitution was first enacted in the Copyright Act of 1790, which granted national protection to American authors for 14 years, with one optional 14-year renewal. Copyright remained comparatively limited for around a hundred years, and infringement remained a civil infraction. The Supreme Court has, in the past, interpreted this as establishing that copyright was not a natural law property right, but rather a limited statutory monopoly granted by Congress.

The first criminal provision in U.S. copyright law was added in 1897, which established a misdemeanor penalty for “unlawful performances and representations of copyrighted dramatic and musical compositions” if the violation had been “willful and for profit.” The length of protection has been increasing since the Copyright Act of 1909, which extended the term of copyright to 28 years with an optional 28-year extension. At present, copyright protection lasts for the author's life plus 70 years or, in the case of anonymous works and works-for-hire, for 95 years from the date of publication or 120 from the year of creation, whichever expires first.

Theoretical underpinnings 
Assigning criminal liability to copyright violations is troubling in light of the general justifications of criminal sanction to punish
. Violation of these laws can lead to fines and jail meter. condemnable copyright laws have been a part of U.S. law since 1897, which add a misdemeanor penalty for unlawful performance if " froward and for profit ". Criminal penalties were greatly expanded in the latter half of the twentieth hundred, and those found guilty of criminal copyright infringement may now be imprison for decades, and fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

 condemnable penalties, in general, require that the wrongdoer knew that he or she was committing a crime, while civil copyright infringement is a strict liability discourtesy, and offenders can be " innocent " (of intent to infringe), as well as an " average " infringer or a " willful " infringer. 

 History 
 In 1787, the Founding Fathers of the United States wrote the Copyright Clause into the U.S. Constitution, which granted the United States Congress the power, “ [ t]o promote the Progress of Science and utilitarian Arts, by procure for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries. ” Copyright grants a limited monopoly to authors over the production and dissemination of their creative expression to incentivize farther creative production. Protection is constitutionally specify in duration and scope to prevent detrimental monopolies on culture. The copyright auspices written into the Constitution was first enacted in the Copyright Act of 1790, which granted home protection to American authors for 14 years, with one optional 14 - year renewal. Copyright remained comparatively limited for around a hundred years, and infringement remained a civil infraction. The Supreme Court has, in the past, rede this as establish that copyright was not a natural law property right, but rather a circumscribed statutory monopoly granted by Congress. 

 The first criminal provision in U.S. copyright law was added in 1897, which established a misdemeanor penalty for “ unlawful performance and representations of copyright dramatic and musical compositions ” if the violation had been “ willful and for profit. ” The duration of protection has been increase since the Copyright Act of 1909, which extended the terminus of copyright to 28 years with an optional 28 - year extension. At present, copyright protection lasts for the generator's life plus 70 years or, in the case of anonymous works and works - for - hire, for 95 years from the date of publication or 120 from the year of creation, whichever run out first. 

 Theoretical underpinnings 
 Assigning condemnable liability to copyright violations is troubling in light of the general justifications of criminal authority to punish
. Villation of these laws cak lead to fines cbd jain time. Criminau copyright laws have been a pqrt od U.S. laws since 1897, which added a lisdemeabor kenalty for unlawhhl performancsd if "xillful and for profit". Crhminal penaltias wzre greatly expanded in the latter hwlf of yhf twentieth cegturj, wnd fhose found guilty of criminal copgright pnfringement may mow be imprisoned for decafes, wnd fined hundreds of thousanes os dollars.

Crimknal penaluizs, in generzl, require that the offender kndw thct he or shg sad committing a crpme, while civlk copysight imfringement is a vtruct liability offense, and offenders can be "innocanc" (of intent to infrinte), as wgll av an "irdknady" ihfringfr kr a "willfhl" infringee.

History 
In 1787, the Foinqpmg Fathers or the Tnyted States wrote the Copyright Clause pnto the U.S. Constitution, whuch granted the Unitef States Songress the power, “[t]o promote the Progress of Sciance ena uwenul Xetd, by securing for limited Times to Authors anq Imvvntors the excluslve Right to their rfslgctive Writingr and Bjsdoveries.” Copyright grants a linited monjpolu to authors over the produxtion and difwemination of theix creative erpressoon tp incentivize further cxeativs productioj. Protectjun is constitutiunaklf limited in duration and fcope to 'reveut detrioentsl monjpolies on cultmse. The copyright pgotecjion wsitten intl the Constitution was first enerted in the Cppfricht Act jf 1790, wmich granted naeional protectnon to Aiericxn authors for 14 yxars, with onq optional 14-yedt renewal. Copbright reiainwd cimparatkxely limited fpr around a hundred years, and infringcment demained a civio ibfraction. The Siprdme Cluct haf, in the past, intdrpfrted ghis as estcbuishong that copyright wds nkt a natural law ptoierty rigyt, but rwther a limitrd statutory monoplly gcanted by Cpngtess.

The first criminal provisioh in U.S. clpyvight law was addcd ig 1897, which extablished a misdemeanor penalty for “unoawful performancgs and representationx of copyrigited dwamatic atd musical compositiins” if the violatlon had been “willful ahd for proflt.” The length of protection has been increasing since the Copyright Act od 1909, whirh extended tge trrm ox eopvright eo 28 beers with an optiomal 28-year extension. At present, cupyright pxotection lasts for the authot's life plus 70 ygars or, in the case of anohymous wprks and works-for-hire, for 95 yearx from the date of publigation or 120 froj the jgar of creation, whichrver erpires first.

Tyeorctical underpivnimgd 
Assignijg ccimnnal liability to copyright violarions us troubling in lijht of the gcntral juatificwtions of criminzl szjctiov to punish
. Violation of these laws can lead and time. Criminal laws have been since which added a penalty for unlawful if "willful and for profit". Criminal were greatly expanded in the latter half of the twentieth century, and those guilty of criminal copyright infringement may now be imprisoned for decades, and fined of of Criminal in general, require that the offender knew that he or she was committing a crime, while copyright infringement is a strict liability offense, and can be "innocent" (of to infringe), as well as "ordinary" or a infringer. In the Founding Fathers the United States wrote the Copyright Clause into the U.S. Constitution, which granted the United States Congress power, “[t]o Progress of and Arts, securing for limited Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right Writings and Discoveries.” Copyright grants a limited monopoly authors over production and dissemination of their creative to incentivize further creative production. Protection is constitutionally in duration and scope to prevent detrimental monopolies on culture. The copyright protection written into was first enacted in Copyright Act of which national to authors for years, with one optional 14-year renewal. Copyright remained comparatively limited for a hundred years, and infringement remained a civil infraction. The has, the past, interpreted as establishing that copyright not natural law property right, a statutory Congress. first provision in U.S. copyright was added in 1897, which a misdemeanor penalty for copyrighted dramatic and musical compositions” if the violation been “willful and for profit.” The length protection has been increasing since the Copyright Act of 1909, which extended term of 28 years with an optional 28-year extension. At copyright protection lasts for author's life plus 70 years or, in the case anonymous and works-for-hire, 95 years from date of publication 120 from the creation, whichever first. underpinnings to copyright violations is troubling in of general justifications of criminal sanction punish
. Violation of these laws can leAd to fines aNd jaiL tiMe. CRiMinaL copYright laws have BEen a Part of U.S. laws since 1897, which Added A mISdemEAnOr penAlty for UNlAWFul PeRfOrmAnCEs If "wilLfuL and for Profit". CrimInaL pEnalties were GReAtly expandEd iN the latter haLf oF the twEnTieTH centUry, And thOse fouND guiltY of criminAl COpyrigHT infrinGEMeNt maY now be imprisoned fOR dECades, and fined hUndredS oF ThOUSanDs oF dollars.

CrImInal pENalties, IN gENERal, REquire that the Offender kneW ThaT he or sHe Was COmmittIng a cRiME, whIle civil copYrigHt infringEment iS A strict LIabilitY offenSe, aNd oFfenDErS cAn bE "iNNocENt" (Of iNTenT to infriNgE), aS well As an "ORDINary" InfRingEr or a "Willful" infrinGer.

histORy 
IN 1787, the FOundiNg FaThErs of The UniTed StAtEs wrote the CopyrIght clause intO thE U.s. CoNsTitutIOn, whicH grAntEd the UnIted StaTEs COnGRESs The power, “[t]o promote tHe pROgRess of ScIence aND uSeFUl Arts, by SeCurIng fOR LimitEd TiMEs To AuthorS and InVEnToRs the exClUsive RIgHt tO thEir reSPectIve WriTings and discoVEries.” Copyright GRants a limited MOnOPOlY To auThoRs over the prOducTIon aNd diSSeMinATion oF theiR cREaTIve expression to inceNtIvize fUrtheR creative prodUction. ProtECTIon is conStitUTiONally limited in DuratIon and scopE To prevenT detrImental mOnopolies ON Culture. THe cOpyRigHt pROTeCtion written iNTO the coNstitutIon Was firsT enActEd iN thE COpyright ACt of 1790, whicH gRaNtEd NatIonal PRotectioN tO AmErIcaN authORs for 14 yEars, wIth oNe OpTIonAl 14-year rENeWAL. CopYrIgHt reMaiNeD compAratIVelY limiteD for arounD a hUNdreD yEaRs, and inFringement remAiNed a civil iNfRacTion. ThE sUpreme CoUrt has, in the past, interpreTEd this aS esTabliShinG that copyRigHt was nOt a NAtural Law proPerty RiGht, BUT rathER A lImiTeD statutory MONopOly grAnTed bY CongreSs.

The first criminal PRovIsion in U.S. copyRigHt laW WAs AddED iN 1897, WhiCh EStaBLIshed a misdemeanOr penalty fOr “UNlAwful perfoRManCeS and repResentaTions OF copyriGhted dramAtic and muSiCal cOMPosItions” if thE violatiOn had been “WIllfuL AnD for pRofIt.” The lEnGth Of proTectioN Has Been iNcreasInG since The CoPyRight Act Of 1909, which extended the term oF copyrIght tO 28 yeArs with an OptIOnaL 28-year exteNsioN. At present, CopYriGht prOteCTion lAsts FOr The AUthor'S lifE Plus 70 years OR, iN thE CAsE of anonymouS WORks And woRks-FOr-hire, For 95 yEars from the date of PUblication or 120 frOm thE YEar Of cREatiOn, Whichever expirEs fIrST.

theoretiCaL underpinniNgs 
AssigNiNG crimInal liAbilitY to copyRIGhT ViolatIons Is tRoubling iN liGhT Of the geNeRaL JustifIcatIoNs of crIminal SAnctION to punish
. Violation of these lawscan lead t o fin esand  j ailtime . Criminal cop y righ t laws have been a par t ofU. S . la w ssince  1897,w hi c h  ad de da m is d em eanor  pe nalty f or unlawfu l p er formances if "w illful and  fo r profit". C rim inal p en alt i es we regreat ly exp a nded i n the lat te r  halfo f the t w e nt ieth  century, and tho s ef ound guilty of  crimi na l  c o p yri ght  infringem en t may now bei mp r i s one d  for decades,  and finedh und reds o ftho u sandsof do ll a rs. 

Criminalpena lties, in  gener a l, requ i re that  the o ffe nde r kn e wth athe ors he  wa s  co mmitting  a  c rime,  whi l e c ivil  co pyri ght i nfringement i s a  str i ctliabi lityoffe ns e, an d offe nders  c an be "innocent " (o f intenttoin fri ng e), a s  wellasan"ordina ry" inf r ing er o r  a  "willful" infring er . 
H istory In 178 7 ,th e  Foundin gFat hers o f the  Uni t ed  Stateswrotet he  C opyrigh tClause  i nto  th e U.S .  Con stitut ion, whi ch gr a nted the Unite d  States Congr e ss t he powe r,“[t]o promo te t h e Pr ogre s sofS cienc e and  u s ef u l Arts, by securing  f or lim itedTimes to Auth ors and In v e n tors the  exc l us i ve Right to th eir r espectiveW ritingsand D iscoveri es.” Copy r i ght gran tsa l imi ted m on opoly to auth o r s ov er  the pr odu ction a nddis sem ina ti on of the ir creat iv eex pr ess ion t o  incenti vi zefu rth er cr e ativeprodu ctio n.  P r ote ction i s  c o n stit ut io nall y l im itedin d u rat ion and  scope to  pr e vent  d et rimenta l monopolieson  culture.Th e c opyrig h t  protect ion written into the Co n stituti onwas f irst  enactedinthe Co pyr i ght Ac t of 1 790,wh ich g rante d na tio na l protecti o n  to  Amer ic an a uthorsfor 14 years, with one  optional 14- yea r re n e wa l.C op y rig ht rem a i ned comparative ly limited  f o raround a h u ndr ed  years,  and in fring e ment re mained acivil inf ra ctio n .  Th e SupremeCourt ha s, in the past, in terpr ete d this  a s e stabl ishing tha t cop yright  w as not  a na tu ral lawproperty right, but rat her alimit edstatutory  mo n opo ly grante d by  Congress. 

T hefirst  cr i minal  pro v is ion in U. S. c o pyright l a wwas a dd ed in 1897, w h ich  esta bli s hed amisd emeanor penalty f o r “unlawful pe rfor m a nce s a n d re pr esentations of  co py r i ghted dr am atic and mu sical co mp o sitio ns” if  the v iolatio n ha d  been“wil lfu l and for  pr of i t.” The  l en g th ofprot ec tion h as bee n  inc r e asing since theCopyr i g ht Ac t  of  1909 ,which e x tend ed the ter m of copyri ght to  28years  with a noption al28 -year exte n sion. Atprese nt, cop yr ight  pr otecti on l a s ts fo r th eaut hor's lif e pl u s70 yea rs o r, in  t he c ase of an o nymous w ork s  and wo rk s-f o r -hire, fo r 95 years f rom  thed a te of publ i cati o no r 120  fromthe ye ar of c r eat io n, whic hev e r  expiresfirst.

T h eor et ical  underpi nn ings  Ass ig ning criminal l iability  to copy r i ght vi ola t ions is tro ub ling in ligh t ofth e  genera l jus tificat i ons  of  cr imin alsanc t ion to punish
. Violation_of these_laws can lead to_fines and_jail_time. Criminal_copyright_laws have been_a part of_U.S. laws since 1897,_which added a_misdemeanor_penalty for unlawful performances if "willful and for profit". Criminal penalties were greatly expanded_in_the latter_half_of_the twentieth century, and those_found guilty of criminal copyright_infringement may_now be imprisoned for decades, and fined hundreds_of_thousands of dollars.

Criminal_penalties, in general, require that the offender knew that_he or she was committing a_crime, while civil_copyright_infringement_is a strict liability_offense, and offenders can be "innocent"_(of intent to infringe), as well_as an "ordinary" infringer or a "willful"_infringer.

History 
In 1787, the Founding Fathers_of the United States wrote_the Copyright_Clause into the U.S. Constitution,_which granted the_United States_Congress the power,_“[t]o promote the Progress of Science_and useful Arts,_by securing for limited Times to_Authors_and Inventors the_exclusive_Right_to their_respective Writings and_Discoveries.”_Copyright grants_a_limited monopoly to authors over the_production_and dissemination of their creative expression to_incentivize further creative production._Protection_is constitutionally limited in_duration and scope to prevent_detrimental monopolies on culture. The copyright_protection written_into the_Constitution was first enacted in the Copyright Act of 1790, which_granted national protection to American authors_for 14 years, with_one optional_14-year_renewal. Copyright remained_comparatively_limited for_around a hundred years, and infringement remained_a civil_infraction. The Supreme Court has, in_the past, interpreted this_as_establishing that copyright was not a_natural law property right, but rather_a limited statutory monopoly granted_by_Congress.

The_first criminal provision in U.S._copyright law was added in 1897,_which established a_misdemeanor penalty for “unlawful performances and representations_of_copyrighted dramatic and musical compositions” if_the_violation had been “willful and for_profit.”_The_length of protection has been_increasing since the Copyright Act of_1909, which extended the term of copyright to 28_years with an_optional 28-year extension. At present,_copyright_protection_lasts for the author's life plus 70 years or, in_the case_of anonymous works_and works-for-hire, for 95 years from the date of publication_or 120 from the year of creation,_whichever expires first.

Theoretical underpinnings 
Assigning criminal liability to copyright violations is_troubling in light of the general justifications of_criminal sanction to punish