What is Copyright Infringement?

Copyright infringement occurs if all or a substantial part of a copyright work is copied (even transiently e.g. on a screen) or if infringing copies are imported, held or dealt in.

With electronic works such as computer software or videos, where those works have anti-copy features, traders lawfully dealing in such works can use copyright law to prevent others unlawfully dealing in devices intended to circumvent those anti-copying features.  

In the case of protecting databases, the owner has rights to prevent unauthorised extraction.

Certain copying is legally permitted (and is hence not copyright infringement) if it is "fair dealing". Fair dealing includes copying for non-commercial research or private study, copying by libraries and educational institutions, copying for journalistic quotes, criticism or review. Factors identified by the courts as relevant as to whether something is fair dealing include whether using the work affects the market for the original work  - use of a work acts as a substitute for it causing the owner to lose revenue is unlikely to be fair, and whether the amount of the work taken is reasonable and appropriate for the purpose. Usually only part of a work may be "fairly" used. There are also exceptions to copyright infringement - on which you should take advice if relevant to you - for the purpose of teaching/education, helping disabled people (e.g. making braille copies, distribution by a charity of accessible format copies of a work,or  adding audio descriptions or subtitles to films).