Digital Networks & Platform Law17 U.S.C. § 106

Volitional Conduct Requirement

/vəˈlɪʃ.ən.əl ˈkɒn.dʌkt/

The legal rule that direct copyright infringement requires an active, volitional act by the defendant causing the copying, insulating automated systems from strict direct liability.

Operational Jurisprudential Axiom:

“An automated conduit is not an infringer simply because it processes bits commanded by users.”

Canonical Precedent:

Cartoon Network LP v. CSC Holdings, Inc. (Cablevision), 536 F.3d 121 (2d Cir. 2008)

Archival Notes:

Central to defense strategies for automated RAG systems, cloud storage providers, and autonomous generative pipelines.