Copyright Law Issues - Essay Example

Actions likely to abet infringement include the supply of technology that has the potential to infringe the content protected under copyright law.

The Sony exception makes it complicated to implement controls on copyright law infringement. It further renders it difficult to prohibit the widespread sharing of media files. According to the Sony exception, media users can always have special situations during which they can share media files without infringing the applicable user policies. It relates to inducement infringement as opposed to contributory infringement. It does not render any user liable for an act of infringement committed by another person. In the case of Sony, it did not intentionally abet users to infringe on the patent protected by copyright laws. Sony did not supply its products to users that it had informed knowledge was infringing the rights protected by law (Strowel, 2009). The exception implies that contributory infringement does not exist whenever there is no use likely to lead to infringement. The Sony exception does not apply in the case of Joe. Joe directly abets infringement through the website that allows user distribution of files. Although Joe does not verify content shared by users, his website aids acts of infringement.