Who protects the copyright in a work? For example, if I hold the copyright in a short story, and someone else publishes it, will the government step in to protect my copyright?

It is up to the copyright owner, or the collective representing it, to enforce its copyright by means of a civil action. The Copyright Act gives the copyright owner a variety of remedies, such as an injunction, damages, an accounting of profits, and delivery of the copyrighted materials back to its rightful owner.

When copyright is infringed, the infringer is liable to pay such damages to the owner of the copyright as the owner has suffered due to the infringement. The infringer may also be liable to pay back any profits made from the infringement that were not taken into account in calculating the damages.

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WARNING: The contents of these FAQs are intended as general legal information only.
If you have a personal problem, please consult a lawyer.