The owner of a copyright is granted a "bundle of rights" under Section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957. These rights are generally categorized into two main groups: Economic Rights (which allow the owner to derive financial benefit) and Moral Rights (which protect the author’s reputation).
1. Economic Rights
These are the exclusive rights that allow the owner to control the commercial exploitation of the work. Depending on the type of work (literary, artistic, musical, etc.), these rights include:
Right of Reproduction: The right to make copies of the work in any material form, including storing it in any electronic medium.
Right of Issuing Copies: The right to distribute or issue copies of the work to the public (not being copies already in circulation).
Right of Public Performance: The right to perform the work in public or communicate it to the public (e.g., a play, a concert, or broadcasting a movie).
Right to make Cinematograph Film/Sound Recording: Specifically for literary, dramatic, or musical works, the right to turn that work into a movie or a song.
Right of Adaptation: The right to convert the work into a different format (e.g., turning a novel into a play or a comic book).
Right of Translation: The right to translate the work into any other language.
2. Moral Rights (Section 57)
Even after the economic rights have been assigned or sold to someone else, the original author retains "moral rights" (also known as Droit Moral). These are independent of the owner's copyright:
Right of Paternity (Right of Attribution): The right to claim authorship of the work and to have their name associated with it.
Right of Integrity: The right to prevent or claim damages in respect of any distortion, mutilation, or modification of the work that would be prejudicial to the author's honor or reputation.
3. Special Rights for Computer Programs
Since computer programs are treated as "literary works," their owners have an additional specific right:
Right of Commercial Rental: The right to sell or give on commercial rental (or offer for sale or for commercial rental) any copy of the computer program.
4. Rights of Related Entities (Neighboring Rights)
Apart from the primary owner, the Act also recognizes rights for those who help communicate the work:
Broadcast Reproduction Rights: Granted to broadcasting organizations for 25 years.
Performers' Rights: Granted to actors, singers, musicians, dancers, etc., for 50 years to protect their live performances.
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