OUP, Others Drop Copyright Case Against DU & Photocopy Shop Owner

Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press,Taylor and Francis withdrew their copyright lawsuit against DU.

Students outside a photocopy shop in Delhi University. Image used for representational purpose. (Photo: The Quint)

Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor and Francis on Thursday withdrew their copyright lawsuit against Delhi University and the owner of a photocopy shop on Thursday, bringing an end to a five-year-long case.

The publications, in their plea had stated that photocopying their books by the shop, Rameshwari Photocopy, violates copyright laws.

In a landmark victory for students, the Delhi High Court had in 2016 dismissed the plea filed by the three international publications against the sale of photocopies of their books, saying that copyright is not a divine right and that education is an important social need.

They had also said that the case was filed to “protect authors, publishers and students from the potential effects on the Indian academic and educational book market caused by the widespread creation and distribution of unlicensed course packs by a copy shop operating from within the premises of the University, where a legitimate and affordable licensing scheme is already in place”.

Students who rallied for their educational rights had said that the photocopies were not made for commercial purposes and the Copyright Act of 1957 allows for exemption on “fair use”.