Today “World Book & Copyright Day”: 23rd Apil

World Book and Copyright Day (also known as International Day of the Book or World Book Days) is a yearly event on 23 April, The Day was first celebrated in 1995 by UNESCO to promote reading, publishing and copyright. UNESCO hoped that by introducing a day like this, they would help young people discover the pleasure of reading and pay tribute to some amazing authors in history. More than 100 countries will take part on 23 April in the 14th celebration of World Book and Copyright Day. Publishers, book shops, libraries, schools, cultural institutions and authors’ societies from all over the world have undertaken to celebrate the Day and promote the enduring importance of books. The day is a symbolic date in world literature marking the birth of noted writers William Shakespeare. It is hoped that this will lead to the renewed respect for those who have made irreplaceable contributions to social and cultural progress. The idea for this celebration originated in Catalonia where on 23 April, Saint George’s Day, a rose is traditionally given as a gift for each book sold.

Many Book shops celebrate the day by offering   special discounts or plan for felicitations of authors over the week.    

More About Copyright

Copyright provides legal rights exclusively given for a definite period to the creators of an intellectual work, e.g. literary works (anything in writing), artistic works (drawings, maps, plans etc.), musical works, films, sound recordings, computer programs (source and object code) for sale or any other use. It is, in principle, not concerned with things that are not perceivable, such as abstract ideas, concepts and the like. Copyright protection begins when works are actually created and fixed in a tangible form. The emerging digital technology, increasing use of computers, communication technology and their convergence into an integrated information technology, have given rise to challenging legal issues for copyright and many more are expected in the future. The ease of distribution, altering digital information and the proliferation of computer networking, raise concerns about copyright. Copyright was designed for three basic reasons: to reward creators for their original works; to encourage availability of the works to the public; and to facilitate access and use of copyrighted works by the public in certain circumstances.

What is copyright?

According to India Copyright Office “Copyright is a right given by the law to creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. In fact, it is a bundle of rights including, inter alia, rights of reproduction, communication to the public, adaptation and translation of the work. There could be slight variations in the composition of the rights depending on the work.”

Copyright can be defined as a person’s exclusive right to authorize certain acts (such as reproduction, publication, public performance, adaptation etc.) in relation to his or her original work of authorship. The creator of the work typically owns the copyright, at least initially. However, copyright is often sold or assigned, in whole or in part, to a commercial publisher, a filmmaker, a recording studio or to someone else who will exploit the work commercially. As a consequence, copyright often benefits commercial interests more than individual authors.

Copyright law has long emphasised that copyright protection does not exist for its own sake but rather to serve the public interest. To take one prominent example, the Constitution of the United States declares that the purpose of copyright in that country is: ‘To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.’ Similarly, the world’s first copyright law, the English Statute of Anne (1710) stated that its purpose was to ‘encourage learning.’

Copyright registration is invaluable to a copyright holder who wishes to take a civil or criminal action against the infringer. Registration formalities are simple and the paperwork is least. In case, the work has been created by a person other than employee, it would be necessary to file with the application, a copy of the assignment deed.

One of the supreme advantages of copyright protection is that protection is available in several countries across the world, although the work is first published in India by reason of India being a member of Berne Convention. Protection is given to works first published in India, in respect of all countries that are member states to treaties and conventions to which India is a member. Thus, without formally applying for protection, copyright protection is available to works first published in India, across several countries. Also, the government of India has by virtue of the International Copyright Order, 1999, extended copyright protection to works first published outside India.

Indian perspective on copyright protection:

The Copyright Act, 1957 provides copyright protection in India. It confers copyright protection in the following two forms:

(A) Economic rights of the author, and
(B) Moral Rights of the author.

The copyright means exclusive right to do or authorise to do the following acts:

In the case of literary, dramatic or musical work:

• To reproduce the work in any material form, this includes storing it by electronic means;
• To perform the work in public or communicate it to the public;
• To make any cinematograph film or sound recording in respect of that work;
• To make any translation or adaption of the work or to do any of the above acts in respect to any translation or adaption of the work.

In the case of computer programmes:

• any of the acts specified above;
• to sell or rent commercially any copy of the computer programme.

In the case of artistic work:

• to reproduce the work in any material form, including depiction in 3-D (D: Dimension) of a 2-D work or in 2-D to 3-D work;
• to communicate the work to the public;
• to include the work in any cinematograph film;
• to make an adaption of the work and/or to do any of the work mentioned above in respect of adaption.

In the case of cinematograph film:

• to make a copy of the film, including a photograph of any images forming part of the film;
• to sell or hire any copy of the film;
• to communicate the film to the public.

In the case of sound recording:

• to make any sound recording embodying it;
• to sell or give on hire or offer for sale any copy of the sound recordings;
• to communicate the sound recording to the public.

Thus, Copyright in a work is not a single right, but it bundles several rights together, including a negative right. Broadly, these rights can be grouped as follows:

• the right of publication;
• the neighboring (related) rights;
• the right to prevent anybody from altering the content of the work that may damage the author’s reputation; and
• the right of authorship or the right of paternity.

For More Information on World Book and CopyRight Day Click Here