Copyright Law in India: Role of the Copyright Board

Copyright is the set of exclusive rights granted to the author/creator of an original intellectual property, such as musical work, artistic work and films. These rights are in consonance with copyright laws in India. Once this is done, the rights can be licensed, transferred or assigned. However, the copyright is granted for certain period of time. The copyright issues in India are addressed by the Copyright Act, 1957.

Copyright Law in India: Composition of the Copyright Board

Copyright law in India provides for the establishing of the Copyright Board. The Copyright Board is a regulatory body established under section 11, of the Copyright Act. The jurisdiction of the Copyright Board extends to the whole country. The Board comprises a Chairman and minimum two and maximum fourteen members.  The members have tenure of five years. The Chairman shall be a person who has been a Judge of a High Court or is qualified to be appointed as one.

Copyright Law in India: Functions of the Copyright Board

Copyright law in India allows the Copyright Board to perform certain judicial functions, such as:

• To decide whether the term of copyright for any work is shorter in any other country than as prescribed under the copyright law in India.
• To resolve disputes related to the registration and assignment of copyright.
• To regulate the grant of mandatory licenses to publish unpublished works.
• To regulate the grant of compulsory licenses pertaining to production and publication of translated literary and dramatic works.
• To address the complaints of the aggrieved persons or the Registrar of Copyright, for rectification of the Register of Copyright.

Copyright Law in India: Powers and Procedures of the Copyright Board

In accordance with stipulations elucidated under section 12 of the Act, the Copyright Board can regulate the procedures that it has to follow, including fixing of venues and time of its sessions and hearings. Copyright law in India provides for zonal division of the country, for the purpose of jurisdiction. The sittings of the Board are carried out in five different zones of India. The Copyright Board hears the plea of the person in same zone, where he resides and conducts business. The five elementary zones are, such as:

• The Northern Zone
• The Central Zone
• The Eastern Zone
• The Western Zone
• The Southern Zone