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Copyright and Related Rights Law

By Prof. Rohan Cherian Thomas   |   NALSAR University of Law
Learners enrolled: 127
ABOUT THE COURSE:

This is a substantive course on Copyright and Related Rights Law. Copyright is a set of rights that vest with authors - such as writer of a book, producer of a film, painter etc. Related Rights refers to Performer’s Rights - such as a Singer’s Rights and Broadcaster’s Rights - such as ESPN (a sports broadcaster). These rights protect these creators from unauthorized use of their expressions. This course foundationally explains the Copyright and Related Rights Law in India primarily through cases, references to the Copyright Act, 1957 and supported by comparisons with the copyright law in other countries, real-world examples and problem scenarios, where relevant. The course can be offered as a generic elective subject under the Choice Based Credit System in universities and affiliated colleges as suggested by UGC.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: Content Creators; Content Administrators; General Awareness

INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Entertainment, Media, Technology
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Law
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate
Start Date : 21 Jul 2025
End Date : 10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends : 28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends : 15 Aug 2025
Exam Date : 01 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1: Literary Work

Week 2: Artistic Work

Week 3: Musical Work

Week 4: Dramatic Work

Week 5: Originality

Week 6: Sound Recordings, Cinematograph Films and Copyright Societies

Week 7: Performer's Rights

Week 8: Broadcast Reproduction Rights and Other Rights

Week 9: Registration, Term and Economic Rights Part-I

Week 10: Economic Rights Part-II and Moral Rights

Week 11: Exceptions

Week 12: Infringement and Problem-Solving

Books and references

Books:
  1. Alka Chawla, Law of Copyright: Comparative Perspectives, LexisNexis (First Edition, 2013).
  2. Elizabeth Verkey, Intellectual Property: Law and Practice, Eastern Book Company (First Edition, 2015)

Other References:
  1. University London Press v. University Tutorial Press [1916] 2 Ch 601. 
  2. Rupendra Kashyap v. Jiwan Publishing House 1996 PTC 439 (Del). 
  3. Francis Day Hunter v. Twentieth Century Fox, MANU/PR/0083/1939; 
  4. Krishika Lulla v. Shyam Vithalrao Devakatta,MANU/SC/1174/2015. 
  5. King Features Syndicate Inc. v. Sunil Agnihotri, 1997 PTC 303 (Del.). 
  6. Ferid Allani v. Union of India, MANU/DE/4323/2019. 
  7. Burlington Home Shopping Pvt. Ltd v. Rajnish Chibber, (1996) PTR 40 (Del.); 
  8. Feist Publication Inc. v. Rural Telephone Services, 499 US 340 (1991). 
  9. George Hensher Ltd. v. Restawhile Upholstery Ltd. [1976] AC 64. 
  10. Antiquesportfolio.com Plc v. Rodney Fitch & Co. Ltd. [2001] FSR 345. 
  11. Kesari Maratha Trust v. Devidas Tulsaram Bagul, MANU/MH/1666/1998. 
  12. King Features Syndicate Inc. v. O&M Kleeman Ltd. 1941 AC 417. 
  13. Microfibers Inc. v. Girdhar & Co., (2006) 128 DLT 238. 
  14. Meikle v. Maufe, [1941] 3 All E.R. 144. 
  15. Sawkins v Hyperion Records, [2005] EWCA Civ 565. 
  16. Institute of Inner Studies v. Charlotte Anderson, MANU/DE/0084/2014 
  17. Norowzian v. Arks Ltd., [2000] FSR 363. 
  18. Green v. Broadcasting Corporation of New Zealand, [1989 RPC 700]. 
  19. Feist Publications Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Co., 499 U.S. 340. 
  20. Indian Performing Rights Society Ltd. v. Eastern India Motion Pictures Assn., (1977) 2 SCC 820. 
  21. Arijit Singh v. Codible Ventures LLP, MANU/MH/4749/2024. 
  22. ESPN Star Sports v Global Broadcast News Ltd., 2008 (38) P.T.C. 477 (Del.). 
  23. The Indian Singers’ Rights Association v. Chapter 25 Bar and Restaurant MANU/DE/2038/2016 
  24. Campbell v Acuff Rose, 510 U.S. 569 (1994). 
  25. Chancellor, Masters & Scholars of University of Oxford and Others v Rameshwari Photocopy Services and Ors., (2017) 69 PTC 123. 
  26. Phonographic Performance Ltd. v. State of Goa, MANU/MH/5608/2024. 
  27. Bright Tunes Music Corp. v. Harrisongs Music Ltd., 420 F.Supp.177 (SDNY 1976).

Instructor bio

Prof. Rohan Cherian Thomas

NALSAR University of Law
Dr. Rohan Cherian Thomas is an Assistant Professor of Law at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad. He teaches Copyright Law at NALSAR, apart from general Intellectual Law. He has authored several research articles in reputed journals. His Ph.D. from National Law University, Jodhpur is in the area of Intellectual Property (IP) – specifically Performer’s Rights. He is B.Sc. LL.B. (Hons.) from Gujarat National Law University. His LL.M. in IP Law is from National Law University, Jodhpur.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams : November 01, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras. It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team


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