No Copyright Protection For Film Titles

The title of a work plays a key role in grabbing the attention of the target base, an interesting title of a book or movie may get more takers than a work with a mundane title. It is for this reason that various authors, movie producers tend to seek protection for such titles under copyright Act, 1957 or through Film and Television Producers Guild etc. The Indian Copyright act, 1957 per se does not protect titles or films, books or songs this is particularly so because the title to a work is too short and incapable of being an independent work protectable under the Act. This was reiterated by the Madras High Court in its recent division bench decision in the case of M/s Lyca Productions & Anr. vs. J. Manimaran .