What are Copyrights and Related Rights?

What are Copyrights?

Copyrights and related rights are legal protections granted to individuals who create original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, as well as those involved in performances, production and broadcasting. 

These rights grant creators exclusive control over their works, allowing them to decide how their creations can be used and preventing others from reproducing, distributing, performing or displaying their work without permission.

The Dual Purpose of Copyrights

Encouraging a Dynamic Creative Culture

Copyrights play a vital role in fostering a thriving creative culture. When creators know that their work will be protected, they are motivated to invest time, effort and imagination into producing new and exciting content. This encouragement leads to a diverse range of artistic expressions, enriching our cultural landscape.

Supporting Creators’ Economic Well-being

Copyrights enable creators to earn a living from their creative endeavours. By having exclusive rights over their works, creators can license or sell their creations to others, generating income that allows them to sustain themselves and continue producing more content.

The Copyright Act, 1957

In India, copyright protection is governed by the Copyright Act of 1957. This legislation grants exclusive rights to the authors of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, ensuring they have control over how their creations are used and distributed.

Duration of Copyright

Under the Copyright Act, the rights of the author persist for 60 years after their death. During this period, only the copyright owner or those authorised by them can reproduce, distribute, perform or display the protected work.

Fair Use: Exception to Copyright

The concept of “fair use” is an essential aspect of copyright law. It allows limited use of copyrighted material without seeking permission from the copyright owner. 

Fair use is permitted for purposes such as research, criticism, review or education, as long as the use does not substantially affect the potential market for the original work. 

Fair use ensures that copyrighted works can be used in ways that benefit society, such as for educational purposes or commentary.