Copyright Board Inspects ‘Originality’

Copyright Act, 1957 is the umbrella legislation relating to copyright. The term 'copyright' under the statute means the exclusive right to do or authorize the reproduction, issuing copies, communication to the public, translation and adaption of a 'work' or a substantial part of it in which copyright subsists. The Act is administered by the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resources Development. The Act set up a Copyright Office under the control of Registrar of Copyrights, for the registration of Copyrights.

A Copyright Board is established under the Act. The Board, a quasi-judicial body, is entrusted with the task of adjudication of disputes pertaining to copyright registration, assignment of copyright, grant of licenses in respect of works withheld from public, unpublished Indian works, production and publication of translations and works for certain specified purposes. The