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⚖️ India Copyright Law – Detailed LLB Exam Notes

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🌱 1️⃣ Introduction

• Copyright Act, 1957 → Governs copyright protection in India.
• Protects authors, performers, musicians, filmmakers, artists, and publishers.
• Ensures moral & economic rights of creators.
• Amendments:
  • 1983 → Sound recordings protected
  • 1994 → TRIPS compliance
  • 1999 → Performers’ rights
  • 2012 → Digital rights, online works, fair use

Easy way to remember: “Create → Own → Assign → Protect → Enforce → Global”

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🌿 2️⃣ Objects of the Copyright Act

1. Encourage creativity and innovation
2. Protect economic and moral rights of authors
3. Ensure cultural, educational, and knowledge dissemination
4. Align with international copyright norms (Berne, TRIPS, WIPO)

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🌾 3️⃣ Works Protected (Section 13)

Type of Work	Examples	Case Law / Principle
Literary	Books, poems, computer programs	Eastern Book Co. v. D.B. Modak (2008) – expression vs ideas
Dramatic	Plays, choreography	R.G. Anand v. Deluxe Films (1978) – plot idea vs expression
Musical	Songs, compositions	Indian Performing Rights Society v. Sanjay Dalia (2013) – performance rights
Artistic	Paintings, sculptures	Amar Nath Sehgal v. UOI (2005) – moral rights upheld
Cinematographic	Films, documentaries	Universal Music India v. Super Cassettes (2008) – film & sound recording protection
Sound Recordings	Albums, podcasts	Gramophone Co. v. Pandey (1984) – duplication infringement
Architectural	Building designs	Recognized as artistic works under Section 13

Key Principle: Only expression of ideas is protected, not ideas themselves.

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🌿 4️⃣ Ownership of Copyright (Sections 16–18)

• Author = original owner
• Employer/Commissioner owns if created in course of employment or commission
• Joint authorship = shared rights unless agreed otherwise
• Government works = copyright vests with Government

Case Law:

• BASF v. Shriram Chemicals (2004) → Assignment/ownership must clearly specify scope, territory, duration.

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🌾 5️⃣ Assignment and Licensing (Sections 31–34)

A. Assignment

• Ownership transferred to another person.
• Must be in writing with duration, scope, and territory.

Case Law:

• BASF v. Shriram Chemicals (2004) – Clear terms needed for valid assignment.

B. Licensing

• Permission to use without transferring ownership.
• Exclusive: Only one licensee
• Non-exclusive: Multiple licensees

Example: Film producer grants TV license for 1 year.

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🌿 6️⃣ Moral Rights (Section 57)

• Claim authorship
• Prevent distortion, mutilation, or modification
• Cannot be assigned

Case Law:

• Amar Nath Sehgal v. Union of India (2005) – Mural artist moral rights upheld

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🌾 7️⃣ Economic Rights (Section 14)

• Reproduction – Copying work
• Adaptation – Translate, convert, or make derivative work
• Distribution – Sell, rent, or transfer
• Public Performance / Communication – Performing music, drama, or films publicly

Case Law:

• Eastern Book Co. v. D.B. Modak (2008) – Expression protected, ideas not
• Indian Performing Rights Society v. Sanjay Dalia (2013) – Enforcement of music rights

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🌿 8️⃣ Infringement & Remedies (Sections 51–65)

A. Acts of Infringement

• Unauthorized reproduction, performance, distribution, or adaptation
• Importing infringing copies
• Using derivative works without permission

B. Civil Remedies

• Injunctions to stop infringement
• Damages / account of profits
• Seizure of infringing copies

C. Criminal Remedies

• Imprisonment: 6 months – 3 years
• Fine: ₹50,000 – ₹2,00,000
• Both imprisonment & fine possible for repeated infringement

Case Laws:

• Gramophone Co. v. Pandey (1984) → Sound recordings infringement
• Universal Music India v. Super Cassettes (2008) → Piracy case
• Oxford University Press v. Rameshwari Photocopy Services (2016) → Fair use/educational exception

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🌾 9️⃣ Fair Dealing / Exceptions (Section 52)

• Private use
• Education / research
• Criticism / review
• Reporting current events

Balances author’s rights and public interest

Case Law:

• Oxford University Press v. Rameshwari – Photocopying for education can be allowed

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🌿 10️⃣ Duration of Copyright (Sections 22–24)

Type of Work	Duration
Literary, Dramatic, Musical, Artistic	Life + 60 years
Cinematographic, Sound Recordings	60 years from publication
Anonymous / Pseudonymous	60 years from publication

Note: After this, works enter public domain

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🌾 11️⃣ International Compliance

• India aligns with:
  • Berne Convention → Automatic protection, moral rights
  • TRIPS Agreement → Minimum standards, enforcement
  • WIPO treaties → Digital & online protection

Case Law:

• University of London Press v. Tutorial Press (1916, UK) – Automatic protection (Berne principle)
• Apple v. Samsung (2012, International) – Digital & design rights globally

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🌿 12️⃣ Quick Exam Notes

• Copyright = expression protected, not idea
• Owner = author unless employment/commission
• Assignment & License → Transfer & permission
• Moral & Economic Rights → Authorship & profit
• Infringement Remedies → Civil + Criminal
• Fair Dealing / Exceptions → Education, research, review
• Duration = Life + 60 years (most works)
• International treaties → Berne, TRIPS, WIPO

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“Author → Own → Assign/License → Moral/Economic Rights → Infringement/Remedies → Exceptions → Duration → Global”

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