ROLE OF COPYRIGHT LAW IN PROTECTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
AUTHOR – RAUSHAN KUMAR, STUDENT AT AMITY UNIVERSITY PATNA
BEST CITATION – RAUSHAN KUMAR, ROLE OF COPYRIGHT LAW IN PROTECTING EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (13) OF 2025, PG. 82-89, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
Abstract
Education has long stood as a fundamental driver of human advancement, consistently shaping society and fuelling innovation. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the boundaries of learning have stretched far beyond conventional classrooms and libraries, embracing online platforms, interactive applications, video lectures, and AI-powered tools. Amidst this digital surge, a significant challenge emerges: safeguarding the rights of content creators while ensuring equitable access to knowledge for learners[1]. This discussion investigates the critical function of copyright law in maintaining this balance, underscoring its ongoing relevance within educational systems. A historical lens—from the advent of the printing press and England’s Statute of Anne to the development of India’s Copyright Act of 1957[2]—reveals copyright’s persistent role in protecting intellectual output, whether textbooks, scholarly articles, instructional videos, or lesson plans. Central to copyright are structured exceptions such as “fair use” and “fair dealing,” which aim to facilitate educational activities without undermining creators’ interests. The underlying philosophy of copyright centres on two objectives: recognizing and compensating creators for their contributions, while also preserving the unimpeded flow of knowledge essential for learning and innovation. Additionally, the concept of moral rights—ensuring proper attribution and safeguarding the integrity of original works—highlights the ethical dimensions of copyright in academic contexts. The complexities of copyright infringement, particularly regarding “substantial similarity,” present ongoing challenges. Distinguishing between protected expression and general ideas is especially nuanced in education, where content overlap is both common and, at times, necessary. The digital era has intensified these complexities, allowing for the instantaneous duplication and distribution of resources and prompting new questions surrounding AI-generated content, digital libraries, and open educational resources (OERs). While technological measures such as watermarking, digital rights management, and controlled digital lending offer partial solutions, there remains a pressing need for clear legal frameworks and updated licensing models. Looking ahead, this analysis advocates for policies that broaden educational exceptions, foster open access, and promote international harmonization of copyright standards. Effective collaboration among policymakers, educators, creators, and technologists is essential to strike a sustainable balance between access and protection, particularly within the rapidly expanding domains of AI and online education.
Keywords: policymakers, watermarking, digital rights, innovation, complexities
[1] India. Copyright Act, 1957, No. 14, Acts of Parliament, 1957.
[2] Patterson, L. R. (2012). Copyright in historical perspective. Oxford University Press.