1. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
GIS Products and Copyright
Protection in India
S.K. Soam
Head, ICM Division
NAARM, Hyderabad
soam@naarm.ernet.in
02/25/13 Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013] 1

2. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Copyright- protections
• Indian copyright Act 1957
• Amendments- 1981, 1984, 1994, (w.e.f. 15 January 2000),
2012.-remaking of zanzeer-Prakash Mehra-1973-Salim-
Javed Akhtar, Amit Mehra-2012-Hindi/Telugu
• What can be protected?
• Original (not originality of ideas)
• Not conflicting with Design Act and Trademark Act
• Forms of protection
• Literary- databases, computer programs, compilations
• Artistic- Maps, photographs, DEM
• Adaptations
• Translation
• What are the rights?
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 2

3. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Copyright owners
• Rights on original work
• Rights on not-original work
– Abridgement/ translation etc /
commentary/compilation
• Authorship and ownership
• Assignment/ employment
• Joint authorship
– Narrator-writer
02/25/13 Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013] 3

4. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Registration requirement
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p465
Status Un-published Published
Not registered LOW MODERATE
Registered HIGH VERY HIGH
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 4

5. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Databases
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p466
Step 1: Facts
Data Sets
Step 2: Selection
A bridged data sets
Step 3: Coordinates
Integrated data Sets
Step 4: Arrangement and value addition
Database / compilation
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 5

6. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Computer Programs
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p468
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 6

7. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Compilations
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p467
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 7

8. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Adaptation
Photo by Steve Mc Curry, 1984, National Geographic Rock picture at Albany Bulb, California
02/25/13 Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013] 8

9. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Adaptation
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p467
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 9

10. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Photographs
Bliss- XP wall paper by O’Rear, Mahatma Gandhi, Dandi March,
1996, Sonoma Valley, California by Unknown, 1930
02/25/13 Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013] 10

11. National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
Copyright vs Patent
Source: S.K. Soam (2013). Protection of GIS Products under Indian Copyright Act, In: Geospatial Technologies for Natural
Resources Management (eds SK Soam, PD Sreekanth, N.H. Rao), ISBN: 978-93-81450-80-2, NewIndia Publishing Agency,
New Delhi, p471
Parameter Indian Copyright Act Patent as per TRIPs
Creator’s rights Protected without registration also Protected after grant
Term of protection During life time and 60 years after 20 years
death for literary works
Scope of protection Expression of idea Implementation of idea
Originality/Novelty Original creation, no formal search, Prior art search, novelty lost after
originality not lost after patent grant copyright registration
Protection territory In Berne convention countries Territorial
Cost of protection Low High
Fair use Available No
Innocent infringement Available (s 58) No
Infringement action Include criminal proceedings Civil suit
Exclusive license Yes Yes
Royalty in general Involvement of copyright societies Between the parties on the basis of
terms and copyright board mutually agreed terms
Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013]
02/25/13 11

12. What? Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad- 500030
National
Why?
Who?
How?
© S.K.Soam, NAARM
02/25/13 Workshop on GIS Applications for Natural Resources Management [20-23 Feb 2013] 12