Final answer:
The statement is false; individuals downloading movies in violation of copyright laws are indeed liable for infringement. Copyright laws protect a broad range of intellectual property, and both companies and individuals can be held responsible for infringements. The protection lasts for the life of the author plus 70 years, and ignoring these rights can lead to serious legal consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that individuals who download movies in violation of copyright laws are not liable for infringement is false. State and federal governments have enacted laws that protect intellectual property, including copyrights. Individuals can be held accountable for copyright infringement, not just big companies. The U.S. Supreme Court in MGM Studios v. Grokster (2005) established that companies distributing file-sharing software, enabling others to infringe on copyrights, could be held liable. However, this also implies individual accountability for unauthorized downloading. Furthermore, a copyright is a form of protection for original works, and it includes a wide range of creative expressions. It is illegal to reproduce, display, or perform copyrighted material without the author's permission. While it is true that copyright holders may prioritize going after larger-scale infringers, this does not exempt individuals from legal responsibility. The copyright protection typically lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years, underscoring the long-term commitment to enforcing these rights.
Lastly, while students may not be the primary targets for copyright infringement actions due to their limited financial resources, the act of downloading copyrighted content without authorization remains an infringement. Students must understand the seriousness of these laws and avoid plagiarism and infringement in all forms.