Not long ago, the newest video games were played in public arcades. Then games hit home consoles and were bought or rented at local video stores. Today, video games can be downloaded in the blink of an eye at only a small price — not everyone can afford these games, however.
The internet has made gaining access to anything incredibly easy, but that doesn’t mean everything is legally downloadable. People who can’t afford to purchase video games — or feel they shouldn’t have to pay — often resort to piracy. If you find your teen pirating then they could face serious criminal charges and penalties. Here’s what you should know:
The dangers of irresponsible internet usage
Just because you can find it on the internet doesn’t mean you have the right to download it. Any form of art that is created comes with copyright protection. This means a work of art can’t be copied, distributed or sold without the authorization of the copyright holder.
Video games are protected just like any other work of art. They can’t be downloaded online unless the original creator says otherwise. Often, teens don’t realize that they are breaking the law by downloading a video game, song or movie online.
In your teen’s eyes, they simply found something interesting online. In the eyes of the law, however, your teen infringed on a copyright. Copyright infringement can lead the original creator to file a claim against your teen seeking compensation for lost profits. It can also, in some cases, lead to federal criminal charges.
Your teen could be accused of infringing a company’s copyright because they downloaded something without knowing the legal ramifications. You should know your options when your child is in legal trouble.
