If you’re an author, singer, music composer or artist then you should be aware of the copyright laws. Copyright is one of the intellectual property rights that offer you authorship for your original work -like a literary work, movie, song or software. These rights also allow you the right to reproduce the work, to distribute the work copy, and to perform it on the public domain. Meanwhile, copyright law protects all your hard work and help you to earn a profit or any sort of benefit from your creativity, and also it provides immunity against copyright infringement.

In this fierce competition age, we must be aware of the copyright laws, if we want to avoid copyright infringement. Every nation has its rules and laws, and in India, there is also copyright act 1957 which was amended in 2012. The aim of this amendment was to bring Indian Copyright Law into compliance with the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

What is Copyright?

Now, let’s understand the copyright law and what are the provision made under this law to ensure the rights of a work’s owner.

  • The Copyright law allows work owner to create new copies of work.
  • It provides complete authority to distribute the same as the owner sees fit with or without charge.
  • Also included with the right of creation of derivatives
  • And right to perform the work publicly.

The most important regarding copyright law is it’s fully applicable to all kinds of work, whether they are published or not. If it’s not stated that the particular piece of work is in the public domain, you should always consider it as copyright material, and before using the same you should take permission from the right-holder. Without the consent of the copyright holder, it would be considered as a copyright infringement, unless the use of the protected work qualifies as “fair use.”

What is Fair Use in Copyright?

 In the fierce age of competition and the process of copying an existing material, fair use matters. In a general way, copyrighted material is for a limited and some purposeful usage. Basically, this term is undefined under Indian copyright law. It’s an exception and offer the limited use of copyrighted material without the permission of the author. Fair use does not mean for the reproduction of complete work or a substantial part. But permit for extracts or quotations from that work.

What is protected under the Copyright Law?

As we are living in the age of creation and technology, we always create something new and innovative and seek its advantage. Most of us when creating something are unaware of what is protected under the copyright or what is protected under the patent. Copyright is one of the intellectual property rights where copyright law protects original works of creation including music, poetry, novels, movies, songs, dramatic, literary, artistic works, computer software, and architecture. Meanwhile, there are few other things which are not protected under the copyright law such as systems, ideas, facts or method of operations.

How to Avoid Copyright Infringement?

Today we encounter different types of copyright materials such as songs, pictures, books, blogs, podcasts, painting, etc. and everywhere we find the copyright infringement warning. Copyright is presented by the © symbol. Copyright infringement is very common these days, if no strict action is taken then any third person can avail the benefits of original content. Therefore, you must be aware of copyright laws and should know how to avoid Copyright Infringement? If you want to use another person’s work, then you can request him to use specific works from the copyright owner. If the copyright owner allows you to do so, then you can use his content.

Copyright Office India

According to section 9 of the copyright act, there should be an office to be called the copyright office for the successful implementation of the Act. The copyright office is responsible for the registration of all kinds of literary and artistic works. By online mode, you can apply for copyright registration,  and the same can be tracked. But in case you seek more information you can also visit the nearest copyright office.