Works in Which Copyright Subsists :
Section 13 of the Copyright Act provides that copyright shall subsist throughout India in certain classes of works which are enumerated in the section. Copyright subsists throughout India in the following classes of works:
• Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works;
• Cinematograph films; and
• Sound recordings.
In Macmillan and Company Limited v. K. and J. Cooper, AIR 1924 PC 75, it was held that the word ‘original’ does not mean that the work must be the expression of original or inventive thought. Copyright Acts are not concerned with the origin of ideas, but with the expression of thought; and in the case of ‘literary work, with the expression of thought in print or writing. The originality which is required relates to the expression of the thought; but the Act does not require that the expression must be in an original or novel form, but that the work must not be copied from another work—that it should originate from the author. What is the precise amount of the knowledge, labour, judgement or literary skill or taste which the author of any book or other compilation must bestow upon its composition in order to acquire copyright in it within the meaning of the Copyright Act cannot be defined in precise terms. In every case it must depend largely on the special facts of that case, and must in each case be very much a question of degree.
In Camlin Private Limited v. National Pencil Industries, (2002) Del, Delhi High Court held that copyright subsists only in an original literary work. But it is not necessary that the work should be the expression of the original or inventive thought, for Copyright Act are not concerned with the originality of ideas, but with the expression of thought, and in the case of a literary work, with the expression of thought in print or writing. Originality for the purpose of copyright law relates to the expression of thought, but such expression need not be original or novel. The essential requirement is that the work must not be copied from another work but must originate from the author.
An artistic work means-
• a painting, a sculpture, a drawing (including a diagram, map, chart or plan), an engraving or a photograph, whether or not any such work possesses artistic quality;
• a work of architecture; and
• any other work of artistic craftsmanship.
Word “artistic” is merely used as a generic term to include the different processes of creating works set out in the definition section and that provides that a work produced by one such processes, and that its creation involved some skill or labour on the part of the artist, it is protected [Associated Publishers (Madras) Ltd. v. K. Bashyam alias ‘Arya’ & Another AIR 1961 Mad. 114 (1962) 1 Mad LJ 258].
What is required for copyright protection in an artistic work is ‘originality’. It is not originality of idea or the theme behind the work but the expression of the work which requires to be original. The originality required as per the Act is a minimum amount of originality. What is prevented under the Copyright Act is making of copies without permission of the author. A copy is one which is either a reproduction of the original or a work which closely resembles the original [Challenger Knitting Mills v. Kothari Hosery Factory 2002 PTC (24) 756 Del. (Reg.)].
“Musical work” means a work consisting of music and includes any graphical notation of such work but does not include any words or any action intended to be sung, spoken or performed with the music. A musical work need not be written down to enjoy copyright protection.
“Sound recording” means a recording of sounds from which sounds may be produced regardless of the medium on which such recording is made or the method by which the sounds are produced. A phonogram and a CD-ROM are sound recordings.
“Cinematograph film” means any work of visual recording on any medium produced through a process from which a moving image may be produced by any means and includes a sound recording accompanying such visual recording and “cinematograph” shall be construed as including any work produced by any process analogous to cinematography including video films.
The expression “cinematograph film” in Section 2(f) of the Copyright Act, 1957 includes video film also which has been recorded in VCR. Entertaining Enterprises & Others v. State of Tamil Nadu & Another AIR 1984 Mad. 278.
The Bombay High Court in Fortune Films International v. Dev Anand & Another AIR 1979 Bom.17, has held that in view of the definitions of “artistic work”, “dramatic work” and cinematograph film”, it would appear that the Copyright Act, 1957 does not recognize the performance of an actor as ‘work’ which is protected by the Copyright Act.