>>jefftk+(OP)
Infringement carries both civil (noncriminal) and criminal proscriptions and liabilities under much law, e.g., under US law, 17 USC Chapter 5:
>>jefftk+(OP)
It's civil vs criminal law. Illegal usually implies breaking a law and committing a crime. Copyright infringement is a civil matter, not criminal.
>>Taywee+Q8
It's unclear whether "here" refers to the artists spoofing Disney, or other actors pirating / duplicating artists' work for commercial use.
In the former case, I'd agree.
In the second, there's a clear violation of 17 USC 506(a)(1)(A).