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Consider the following statements in respect of protection of copyright in India I. Copyright is a legal right given to creators of literacy, dramatic, musical and artistic works and produces of cinematograph films and sound recordings. II. Copyright protects only the expression and not the ideas. There is no copyright in an idea. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement I is correct as the Copyright Act, 1957, defines copyright as a legal right and a 'bundle of rights' granted to creators of original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, as well as producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings [c1, t1]. Statement II is also correct based on the fundamental legal principle known as the 'idea-expression dichotomy.' Under Indian law, copyright protection is conferred only on the original expression of information and ideas in a tangible form, not on the ideas, knowledge, or concepts themselves [c2, t3]. Official documentation explicitly states that 'copyright protects the expressions and not the ideas' and that 'there is no copyright in an idea' [t1, t9]. Since both statements accurately reflect the statutory provisions and legal doctrines governing copyright in India, option 3 is the correct choice.
Sources
- [1] Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 18: International Economic Institutions > Copyright > p. 543
- [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > 13.8 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) > p. 385
- [3] https://copyright.gov.in/documents/handbook.html