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Acts of secondary infringement

Secondary infringing acts are those of importing, possessing, selling or dealing, providing the means for making copies, permitting the use of premises for an infringing performance and supplying apparatus for an infringing performance. Secondary acts deal with those further down the ‘chain’. Unlike primary infringers, who are strictly liable regardless of their state of knowledge, secondary infringers require knowledge of infringement. Copyright owners can seek assistance to prevent Importation of infringing copies by writing to HMRC. If infringement proceedings are contemplated, a claimant should write to the potential defendant, put them on notice and give them time to evaluate the claims made against them. Those in the frame for infringement will bear scrutiny of their evidence adduced on independent effort and creativity at the disclosure stage of the court action. There is no statutory provision that would restrain threats of copyright infringement being made but practitioners should beware bundling claims with other IP rights that attract such