The Central Government has recently notified the Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 which amend the Copyright Rules, 2013.
The key goal of the new Copyright Rules is to ensure seamless and error-free enforcement given technical advancements in the modern age. The new rules would aid India's transition to electronic media as the primary form of communication.
The Copyright (Amendment) Rules, 2021 contain a new clause that removes the need for publishing in the Official Gazette.
The amendment further addresses royalty sums that are yet to be distributed, as well as the use of electronic and traceable payment systems when receiving and administering royalties.
The compliance conditions for registering software works have been significantly lowered, with the claimant currently having the option of filing either the first 10 and last 10 pages of the source code, or the full source code if fewer than 20 pages, with no block out.
The time limit for the Central Government to respond to an application made before it for registration as a copyright society is extended to one hundred and eighty days.
Per financial year, copyright societies will also be expected to prepare and publish an annual Transparency Report.
The Copyright Rules, 2013 were last amended in the year 2016.
