What is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal right that protects original creative works like books, music, art, films, architecture, and software. It covers the expression of an idea fixed in a tangible form, not the idea itself.

Under Indian law, the Copyright Act, 1957, gives creators exclusive control to reproduce, publish, perform, adapt, and communicate their work to the public, and to authorise others to do so.

The purpose is to reward creativity while encouraging cultural growth, with protection typically lasting the creator’s life plus a substantial period.

Copyright arises automatically when the work is created, and registration strengthens enforceability.