Overview of Changes to the Indian Copyright Law

Abstract

The Copyright Amendment Act, 2012 has been enacted by the Government of India bringing changes to the Copyright Act, 1957. The amendments make Indian copyright law compliant with the Internet Treaties, WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT). The amendments grant performers’ rights to performers. While introducing technological protection measures, the law ensures that fair use survives in the digital era by providing special fair use provisions. The amendments have gone beyond the limited mandate of WCT and WPPT and made many author friendly amendments to streamline business practices, special provisions for disabled, amendments facilitating access to works and other amendments to streamline copyright administration. The purpose of this paper is to narrate the changes made in the Copyright Amendment Act. Wherever possible a brief rationale for the amendment as culled out from the Notes on Clauses of the Copyright Amendment Bill and from the Report of the Standing Committee of Parliament, is provided.