Copyright is a legal right given to the creators for their own literary and artistic works. The laws securing copyright protection acts as a balance between the interest of the creators and the public interest having the broadest possible access to the creation. Copyright can be claimed over original literary works, dramatic works, musical and artistic works, cinematography, sound recordings and much more.
Brief description of works that can be copyright protected:
1. Literary Work: According to Section 2(o) of the Copyright Act, 1957, literary work entails those which are expressed in print or writing or in some form of notation or symbols. It should be original and must be expressed in the form of literary enjoyment.
2. Dramatic Work: Section 2(h)of the Copyright Act provides that “dramatic work” includes any piece for recitation, choreographic work or entertainment in dumb show, the scenic arrangement or acting, form of which is fixed in writing or otherwise but does not include a cinematograph film.
3. Musical work: This 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 to enjoy copyright protection.
4. Cinematograph Films: According to section 2(f) of the Copyright Act, Cinematograph film means any work of visual recording and includes a sound recording accompanying such visual recording. Any moving image produced in a medium including a sound recording shall be construed as a cinematograph under the Act.
5. Sound recordings: The Copyright Act defines sound recordings as “works that result from the fixation of a series of musical, spoken, or other sounds but not including sounds accompanying a motion picture or other audiovisual work.” The sound recording must be captured in a medium from which it can be perceived or reproduced to be protected under the Copyright Act. A sound recording usually includes the contributions of the parties whose performance is captured in the recording.