India is one of the largest producers and exporters of copyright materials. In order to
protect the authors and performers government enacted Copyright Act – 1957 (amended in 1999), the Copyright Rules – 1958 (amended in 1995), and the International Copyright Order, 1999.
Copyright is a legal right to creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. It gives them a blanket right over the production, reproduction, adaptation and translation of the work. It also gives broadcasting organizations ‘broadcast reproduction right’ and bestows on performers ‘performer’s right’.
Copyright piracy is a theft of the intellectual properties of a person, and therefore is a crime.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, there is a rise of awareness and action against infringement of copyrights in India.
The copyright office, established in January 1958, registers different classes of works.
The Copyright Board, a quasi-judicial body, was constituted in September 1958 to settle
copyright disputes. The jurisdiction of the Copyright Board extends to the whole of India.
Copyright Enforcement Advisory Council (CEAC) set up on November 6, 1991 to further
educate people about copyrights through seminars.
Nodal Officers are designated to enforce copyright laws.
Adhering to the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1994 separate copyright societies were set up for
- Film, Music, and Sound Recordings.
- Intellectual Property Rights are taught in the Universities.
- Financial aid is given to copyright societies.
