What is copyright infringement? Can I get in trouble for copyright infringement? What if I wasn’t aware that I infringed something protected by copyright?

Copyright infringement occurs when the user of a pre-existing work copies it, allows others to access and use the work (by uploading it to a website for example), adapts it or sells on or distributes copies to others. Doing these things, being aware that they are unlawful, can also be a criminal act. Civil penalties in the form of damages can be extensive. It is not a defence for a user to say infringement took place innocently.