Virtually every business either creates or uses works that are protected by copyright laws. The manner in which your company creates or hires others to create original works of authorship will significantly affect your company’s legal rights to reproduce and use those works. Misusing another’s copyrighted works can lead to claims of copyright infringement, which can lead to lawsuits and significant defense costs. On the other hand, proper acquisition and use of copyrighted works can reduce certain business expenses and potentially lead to new sources of revenue.