Legal Question in Technology Law in California
I have a question about computer searches by the police. If the police search your computer but do not find what they are looking for and instead find something else like music that is not downloaded legally, could the police take you into jail for the music?
Asked on 11/28/09, 4:42 pm
1 Answer from Attorneys
Edward Hoffman
Law Offices of Edward A. Hoffman
Police who are legally searching for evidence of one crime and unexpectedly find evidence of another are not required to ignore what they find. You can be charged, jailed, prosecuted and convicted based upon evidence of crimes that they previously had no idea you might have committed.
Generally speaking, though, copyright violations like the one you describe would be civil matters and not criminal.
Answered on 12/03/09, 5:00 pm
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