According to an Italian Court of Cassation ruling, copyright holders can pursue legal action and obtain compensation for damages from copyright infringement without needing to prove actual harm. The copyright owner has the right to compensation for both financial damages if lost earnings from the crime can be proven, as well as moral damages without needing to indicate a specific instance. The legal punishment can be based solely on the judge's assessment of copyright infringement, which is sufficient evidence of damage. The copyright owner only needs to prove the extent of damages, not their existence, and the court can then determine damages and award compensation as it deems equitable.

1. TEN – The European Network
Not required the proof of the damage for the purpose of copyright
violation
According to a recent sentence of the Italian Court of Cassation n. 14060/2015, for the
purpose of copyright infringement, the holder of the copyright may carry out a legal action to
obtain compensation for damages based also on the mere violation of such rights without the
proof of an actual and concrete damage.
The owner of copyright has the right to obtain compensation for both the pecuniary
damage, if it is proven the loss of earnings resulting from the crime, and the moral damages, for
copyright infringement. The moral damage has to be proved based on the general disturbance of
mood, without being necessary to indicate the concrete fact.
In fact, the legal punishment can be based only in the assessment by the judge of copyright
infringement, breach that is sufficient to proof the damage.
Indeed, the copyright owner must prove only the extent of the damage. Otherwise, the court
may determine the extent of the damage, and liquidate it as he deems proper, in an equitable basis.
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