Latest Article

Copyright laws in the digital age

Courtesy/By: Debojeet Das | 2020-06-23 13:44     Views : 286

The convergence of technology is a phenomenon which is the merging and combining of different technologies in a single device through the wireless internet or other wired technologies such as cable. This directly affects broadcasting rights along with performers’ rights. All the sectors are interconnected here with each other and as the performers continue to perform and for broadcasting that performance, the telecommunication will be utilized. The current developments in the digital world and continuous strides being made in the field pose a challenge to copyright laws as a consequence. These challenges are unprecedented, given the novel nature of technological inventions. One of the most challenging aspects of digital advancements and their spread among the common people poses is the simplicity of using that digital content. People have more access to digital content more than ever and it has become significantly easier for them to rip off content from licensed devices. Digital growth is a double-edged sword which gives the creators of digital content the ability to restrict their work’s use in ways which were not even imaginable before. Advantages are many when it comes to digital content and one of them is easy redistribution of digital works. Creators can cheaply reproduce their content and redistribute it worldwide. The fear of digital works getting stolen is accompanied with increasingly strict copyright laws which are covering more and more products every day.

Copyright laws are mostly talked about in layman discussions when it is focused mostly on artistic works but they play a crucial role in manufacturing software too. Newer copyright laws are being pushed towards the protection of software in innovative ways which sometimes turn out to be contrary to consumers’ interests. This happens mostly because of the increasingly blurred lines between software producers and consumers. Open-source software has a staunchly loyal consumer base which encourages innovation among developers. Modern economies thrive because of the openness with which digital content is available to so many people at once. Therefore, it requires careful consideration for the legislators in the process of coming up with copyright laws which would boost incentive for creators without restricting innovative accessibility. Broadcasting is one of those industries in focus which began with a few important players. The broadcasting industry was seen to be suffering because of the digital onslaught and as a countermeasure, the emergence of WIPO treaties was witnessed. India boasts the third largest broadcasting network on the planet which expedites the spread of information to the most distant parts of the country quickly. This is exactly why it needs an efficient regulatory network.

Performances are spread across the world and especially with digital accessibility, they are everywhere. This calls for a need for a unified private international law. Traditional approaches to copyright laws are futile in tackling the contemporary issues of consuming content over the internet. The Copyright Act does not consist of provisions which suit the needs of the internet because if they are followed to the letter then even reading something off the screen warrants action against individuals.

Courtesy/By: Debojeet Das | 2020-06-23 13:44