Civil Wrong and a Criminal Offence for Copyright Infringement

Question: Explain the difference between a civil wrong and a criminal offence? Provide one example. Answer: The issue in this question is to differentiate between civil wrongs and criminal wrongs. For this purpose, the basics of each one has to be discussed and try to clear the differences that exist between the two and an example of this difference also needs to be given. A civil wrong can be described as the wrongs that have taken place against a particular individual. In this regard, civil wrongs can be redressed. This means that damages may be claimed by the party that has suffered a civil wrong from the party that has caused such damages (Williams, 1982). In this regard, the civil wrongs can also be described as the wrongs that have not been recognized as criminal wrongs by the State. On the other hand, the criminal wrongs are considered as the wrongs against state and not only against an individual. Another difference between the two is that criminal wrongs are more serious as compared to the civil wrongs because they are considered as the wrongs against the whole society, even if only one person has suffered an injury (Dworkin, 2005). In this way the wrongs that are against the benefit of the general public and the State are considered as criminal wrongs. On the behind the civil wrongs adversely affect the interests of a particular person. The acts like murder, robbery or theft are considered as criminal wrongs. On the other hand, the less serious wrongs like trespass, copyright infringement, causing nuisance or pollution are treated by the law and civil wrongs. In case of criminal wrong, action is taken by the state against the offender. On the other hand, in case of a civil wrong, the injured party can sue the other party that has caused the injuries. An example can be used to explain the difference present between the two. For example, if a person has punched another person, but no physical injury was caused, it will be treated as a civil wrong. On the other end, if a person beats the other person and causes serious injuries, it will be termed as a criminal wrong. References Dworkin, R. (2005). Taking Rights Seriously, Harvard University Press Williams, G.L., (1982). "Learning the Law", 11th Ed., London: Stevens