A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR IMPROVING COPYRIGHT ENVIRONMENT IN THE INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY

Abstract

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. It is, in fact, a bundle of rights such as the right of reproduction, right of communication to the public, rights of adaptation and translation of the work. There could be slight variations in the composition of the rights depending on the work. Copyright ensures certain minimum safeguards of the rights of authors over their creations, thereby protecting and rewarding creativity. The Indian film industry is a dominant cultural force in its own right. Especially in the Indian subcontinent and in various other parts of the world, it wields considerable influence, despite the preponderance of the culturally and commercially stronger Hollywood and its stranglehold on movie audiences around the world. However, rampant plagiarism and unauthorized copying from Hollywood and other international films has been a longstanding malaise hampering the reputation of Bollywood as a major creative source of original intellectual property. It is thus pertinent to explore the role, significance and treatment of copyright in the Indian film industry and to investigate the various determinants of copyright environment in the industry. The present study proposes to identify and analyze the factors that impact the copyright environment, and to explore the attitude of Indian film professionals towards copyright. The study has used a mixed-methods research approach. Primary data was collected through a survey of film-making professionals through a questionnaire. Case studies were developed regarding specific movies for the in-depth analysis of various aspects of infringement caused by these movies. An analysis was conducted of the incidence of copyright violations in the Hindi film industry through the lens of the academic discipline of anthropology. The above methods were adopted to achieve the objectives of this study in a holistic approach. The study finally culminates in the creation of a strategic framework for improving copyright environment in the Indian film industry. The study has found key factors affecting the copyright environment in the Indian film industry and also deciphered the attitude of film professionals towards copyright, while combining all the findings of this mix-methods research to finally postulate a strategic framework for improving copyright environment in the Indian film industry.