Indian copyright law | Intellepedia

Version Recordings & Cover Versions – Part IV: Notes on Copyright Amendment, 2012

This post examines the Copyright Amendment, 2012, particularly the statutory licensing regime for cover versions under Section 31C. It discusses the legal requirements for making version recordings and the implications for authors and producers.

Copyright Assignment & Licenses – Part II

This article discusses critical legal requirements for copyright assignments and licenses in India under Section 19 of the Copyright Act, 1957. It also analyses the 2012 amendments and their impact on the rights of underlying authors in films and sound recordings.

Fair Use vs. Copyright Infringement

This post analyses key legal cases that shaped the debate on fair use versus copyright infringement, focusing on transformative use in art. It highlights how courts have interpreted these defences within the framework of copyright law.

Conceptualizing Copyright Assignments & Licenses Part – I

This post explains the legal concept of copyright assignment in India, focusing on the mechanisms and statutory provisions governing the transfer of rights under the Copyright Act, 1957. It also discusses practical considerations for drafting effective assignment agreements.

Ideas, Concepts, Scripts & Stories – Protecting Ideas in the Entertainment Industry Part V

The Anil Gupta v. Kunal Dasgupta case sets a precedent on idea protection and breach of confidence in Indian entertainment law. It clarifies that detailed concepts, rather than mere ideas, may receive copyright protection and legal remedies when misused.

India’s Copyright Societies & Collective Rights Management – Part VI

This post analyses the functioning of copyright societies in India, recent legislative changes, and significant judicial interpretations. It addresses critical questions about licensing models and the intent behind the 2012 amendments, with an objective, legal-academic perspective.

Salient Features of the Copyright Amendment Bill 2012 and its Impact on Entertainment Industry

The Copyright Amendment Bill 2012 brings notable changes to Indian copyright law, impacting authors, performers, and producers in the entertainment sector. This analysis examines the Bill’s main provisions and their practical implications for copyright ownership, royalties, and statutory licensing.

Your Story! So What? – Books, Similarity and Copyright Infringement – Copyrights and Writers Part 11

The post explores when copying elements from books constitutes copyright infringement under Indian law. It clarifies the difference between ideas and expressions and outlines how substantial similarity is assessed. Writers are guided on how to avoid infringement while drawing from common themes.

Matrubhumi Printing and Publishing Ltd v. IPRS

The Kerala High Court clarified that producers, not composers, own the copyright in sound recordings used in films, unless a contract states otherwise. Matrubhumi and Malayalam Manorama were found not to infringe composer or lyricist rights by broadcasting such recordings on FM radio.

Blindness and Accessible Books: From Marrakesh to Marella Gunta Palem

This post explores the progress and challenges of accessible books for blindness in India since the Marrakesh Treaty. Despite legal reforms and initiatives, significant barriers to information access persist for persons with disabilities.