Whats the difference between theft and infringement?
If a person steals a painting from an art gallery, it is theft. If a person illegally copies an image (downloaded from the Web, or reproduced by mechanical or other means), it is infringement. Theft is violation of criminal law. The punishment is incarceration (a prison sentence), fines, or both. Infringement is a violation of civil law. The punishment is a law suit and/or an injunction. An injunction is a judicial process restraining a person from a wrongful act (such as exhibiting or selling an infringed work of art), or compelling restitution to an injured party (such as a public statement of apology, payment of damages, etc.) Note that statutory damages for copyright infringement can be anywhere from $200-$100,000, depending on whether the infringer is deemed innocent or willful.
