Which of the following must a copyright owner establish to prove infringement?

To prove copyright infringement, a copyright owner must establish that their exclusive rights have been violated. This refers to the specific rights granted to a copyright holder, which typically include the right to reproduce the work, distribute copies, perform the work publicly, and create derivative works. When a copyright owner can demonstrate that someone else has used their work without permission in a way that violates these rights, they have laid the foundation for an infringement case.

The necessity of proving that exclusive rights were violated underscores the nature of copyright law, which is designed to protect the original expression of ideas while granting rights to the creators of that content. The focus here is on what actions were taken that infringe upon those specific rights rather than other factors like the defendant's knowledge of copyright laws, the commercial success of the work, or the defendant's intentions. Without establishing that an infringement of exclusive rights has occurred, a copyright infringement claim cannot proceed.