Balancing Creativity And Copyright: The Scope Of Fair Dealing In India

Introduction

In today's time, where social media and the internet have taken over forms of communication, the line between inspiration and plagiarism is becoming very thin. Content creators such as YouTubers, Instagram influencers, teachers, podcasters, and even meme creators use existing content like movies, songs, literature, or paintings as a source of material to create something new. Reviews, reaction videos, parodies, educational lectures, and satirical sketches tend to rely on clips of copyrighted content in order to get their point across and be entertaining. But is this reliance a valid one from a legal standpoint? Does it push the limits too far towards copyright infringement? Over time, the exceptions have been interpreted by courts to balance copyright owners' rights with teachers', artists', and digital creators' needs, so they can have room for innovation and free expression. To know the scope of fair dealing is not only about complying with the law