Should violating copyrights or patents—such as by copying a movie or drug—be treated as a civil wrong for which restitution must be made rather than a criminal offense punishable by a fine or jail time? <br>
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From the statements below, pick the one that makes the most sense.
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A
No, it is illegal to copy medications, music, or foods that have their own trademarks and protected recipes because the purchaser is not receiving the intended goods. However, you cannot imprison entire corporations.
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B
No, copying a patented design and producing or distributing copycat goods based on it without permission is theft, a felony that deceives consumers and denies the patent owners of revenue.
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C
Yes, most violations are not harmful and no one is harmed, so it would be disproportionate to give the offenders a criminal record; at most, it is a civil violation that justifies paying compensation, but it should probably only result in a warning.
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D
Although it is unpleasant to neglect to pay fees to a copyright or patent owners whose work has been illegally included into a product, it is not as serious as committing a crime.