“Copyright Management via Blockchain: Indian IP Law Considerations”

Zeeshan Rahman
B.A.LL.B (Hons)
Student of Centre for Juridical Studies, Dibrugarh University
10 August 2023

Abstract
Blockchain technology has revolutionized copyright management systems by offering
decentralized solutions for protecting and enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights. This
paper investigates the potential of decentralized copyright management systems utilizing
blockchain technology from an IP law perspective within the Indian context. Existing
copyright management systems encounter challenges related to transparency, inefficiency,
and centralized control. Leveraging blockchain's distributed ledger technology, this paper
critically examines the benefits and challenges associated with implementing blockchain-
based copyright management systems in India. Additionally, it evaluates their compatibility
with the current IP laws. The study begins by providing an overview of India's copyright
landscape, emphasizing the importance of copyright protection and the necessity for an
efficient copyright management system. It then delves into the fundamental concepts of
blockchain technology and explores its potential applications in copyright management, such
as digital rights management, ownership verification, licensing, and royalty distribution.
Taking into account the IP law perspective, this paper analyzes the legal implications of
employing blockchain technology in copyright management systems in India. It explores the
implications for copyright registration, enforcement, and the role of intermediaries like
collecting societies. Moreover, it assesses the challenges concerning privacy, data protection,
smart contracts, and jurisdictional issues that may arise during the implementation of
blockchain-based copyright systems. Furthermore, the paper evaluates India's regulatory
framework and its readiness to embrace decentralized copyright management systems
powered by blockchain technology. It discusses the potential amendments required in the
existing IP laws to accommodate blockchain-based systems and proposes approaches for
integrating blockchain into the current copyright ecosystem. This paper contributes to the
ongoing discourse on decentralized copyright management systems in India by adopting an
IP law perspective. It identifies the opportunities and challenges that blockchain technology
presents and attempts to provide valuable insights for policymakers, legal practitioners, and
stakeholders within the copyright industry.

Keywords: Copyright management, Blockchain, Intellectual property, Decentralization, IP

Law

Introduction
 The
TheIndian
Berne
IPRS came
Convention,
Copyright
into existence
Act,
adopted
1957,
on
in§52
India's copyright landscape is23rd
1886,August
deals with
governed 1969.the
by theTheprotection
IPRS is aofrepresentative
Copyright works and thebody
Act, of 1957,rights ofofOwners
their authors.
a comprehensive of Music,It
legal
provides
viz. Composers,
creatorsLyricists
such as authors,
(or Authors)
musicians,
and thepoets,
Publishers
painters
of Music
etc. with
andthe
is also
meansthetosole
control
authorized
how their
bodyworks
to
framework
are
issueused,
Licences that
by whom, aims
for usage
andofonto what
protect
Musical terms.the
Works & isrights
It Literary of
on creators
basedMusic three
within
basicand
Indian. promote
principles artistic aand
and contains literary
series of
provisions determining the minimum protection to be granted, as well as special provisions available to
endeavours. The Act is in place with international copyright standards, including those that
developing countries that want to make use of them.
have been set out in international agreements such as the Berne Convention. 1 The Copy Right
Act has been enacted to protect a variety of creative works, including literacy, musical,
cinematographic etc. The term of copyright protection varies from content to content
depending on the nature of said content, it ranges from the lifetime of the copyright holder
plus 60 years for literacy, dramatic works etc, to 50 years for cinematographic works. The
Act also highlights the various rights that the copyright holder holds, these include exclusive
rights to reproduce, perform, distribute and adapt their works. These rights help the right
holders to control how their content is used, They can even sell their rights to other
individuals. India's copyright landscape has evolved to address contemporary challenges,
including those posed by digital technologies and the internet. Digital rights management,
anti-circumvention measures, and the protection of technological protection methods were all
addressed by the 2012 modification to the Copyright Act. These modifications sought to
bring Indian copyright law into step with the digital era, making it easier to safeguard digital
property and thwart online piracy.

In India, collecting organisations are essential to the administration of copyright. For the
public performance and transmission of their works, organisations like the Indian Performing
Right Society (IPRS)2 and Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL)3 administer and collect
royalties on behalf of the authors and rights holders. India’s copyright law also includes
multiple provisions dealing with fair use of the content for purposes such as criticism,
education, review, news reporting and research, For these purposes permission from the
copyright holder.4 However, these provisions have certain limitations and all of the people
who want to use copyrighted content must adhere to the principle of “fair use”. The copyright

landscape in India has witnessed multiple high-profile cases related to copyright

infringement. Experts for years have argued about the fine line between copyright protection
and freedom of speech, the enforcement of digital rights etc. Overall, India's current
copyright landscape is a dynamic field that strives to balance the interests of creators, rights
holders, and the public in the context of rapid technological advancements. As the digital
ecosystem continues to evolve, Indian copyright law is likely to adapt further to address
emerging challenges and opportunities in the protection and management of creative works.

1
2
3
4
Phonographic Performance Limited India, commonly known as PPL India, is an Indian collective rights
management organization (CMO), founded in 1941.
The Rapid advancement of technology in the last few decades has reshaped all the industries
and minds of people alike. With the use of technology content creation has become so much
more efficient and easier, But with the advancement of technology there arose multiple
challenges in the field of copyright. Among these multiple technologies, blockchain has
emerged as a major driving force in technological advancement. It has the inherent potential
to revolutionize data storage, verification etc. There are multiple sectors which show promise
for the application of blockchain technology, one area that holds tremendous promise is the
Intellectual Property Sector. Blockchain technology5 has the potential to transform it into an
evolutionary management system. This paper attempts to explore the fundamental tenets of
blockchain technology and also examines its potential implementation in India.

At the centre of blockchain technology lies a foolproof ledger that transcends its initial use in
cryptocurrency systems like Ethereum, Bitcoin etc. The establishment of a decentralised,
open, and secure digital repository for transaction records is required by this unique
technique. Blockchain networks are maintained by a decentralised network of users, often
known as nodes, rather than a single authority. These nodes collectively validate and record
transactions within blocks. Each block is linked to its predecessor cryptographically, forming
a sequence of interconnected blocks, hence the term “blockchain”. The Decentralized system
used in blockchains eliminates the need for intermediaries, fosters transparency and also adds
to the security of the copyright holders. The unalterable nature of stored data ensures that
every transaction that takes place in the blockchain. As stated earlier the blockchain is made
up of blocks and each block is unique. No changes can be made to the blockchain without the
consensus of the network. These attributes of the system coupled with a few others, have
paved the way for applications spanning well beyond cryptocurrency, with supply chain
management, healthcare, finance, and especially intellectual property rights management at
the forefront. The landscape of IP management has had multiple challenges from the
beginning, particularly in this era of technological evolution in the field of the world wide
web. The verification of ownership, tracking the utilization of content for fair use and the
enforcement of copyright holders’ right has never been more complex and difficult. India is
one of the biggest hubs for start-ups in the world, it is distinguished by a thriving creative and
technological ecosystem. The implementation of blockchain technology in India for
Intellectual Property management holds immense promise.

5
Nevertheless, challenges persist. Regulatory frameworks in India must evolve to embrace
blockchain-based Intellectual Property management systems. When implementing such a
complicated system in India a few concerns arise relating to jurisdiction, the enforcement of
said agreements and the admission of blockchain-based evidence in the legal proceedings.
Concerns regarding data privacy and the protection of sensitive data inside a public
blockchain network need to be reduced at the same time. The transformative potential of
blockchain technology in the realm of intellectual property in a country such as India with its
huge start-up ecosystem is undeniable. Its ability to provide us with transparent records, that
are tamper-proof and an automated and quick process can resolve multiple problems
associated with Intellectual Property Management. However the deployment of such a
technology on a large scale still poses multiple challenges as stated earlier, One must keep in
mind the legal, technical and regulatory aspects. We shall further dive into the use of
blockchain technology in Intellectual Property Rights in India via in-depth analysis, case
studies, and identification of multiple challenges that one shall face in implementing this
system.

Advantages of Blockchain in Intellectual Property Rights Management

In this era of technological innovations, the integration of blockchain technology as stated
earlier has a lot of potential in the Intellectual Property Management System, It has a
multitude of advantages that show potential to bring about the evolution that the current IP
management system requires. It can change the way creators, inventors and rights holders
interact with one another and protect their creations. This section of the paper shall delve into
the multiple benefits and advantages that blockchain brings to the domain of IP management
in India and also globally.

Proof of Ownership and Authenticity:

 Blockchain technology is a decentralized, distributed ledger that stores the record of ownership of digital assets.
In this ever-evolving and complex landscape of Intellectual Property Rights, one of the most
common and foundational challenges faced by copyright holders is to prove their ownership
of the said content. With the evolution of digital platforms, the recreation and distribution of
content have been so much easier, and this poses a huge challenge for copyright holders. This
is where blockchain technology shines. At the core of this problem lies blockchain
technology's remarkable ability to provide undeniable proof of ownership. Traditional
methods of proving ownership such as time stamps and paper trails have been rendered
ineffective on multiple occasions as they are prone to tampering and manipulation.
Blockchain, on the other hand, operates on the principle of decentralization and hashing. 6
When content let it be art, technological innovation, literary creation etc is added to a
blockchain it cannot be altered, as it is assigned a unique cryptographic hash, in simple terms
a digital fingerprint. This cryptographic hash acts as a virtual seal of authenticity that only
the copyright holders own. It represents a time at which the work was added to the
blockchain and once added it cannot be altered without the consensus of the entire network.
This advantage has broad implications for numerous businesses. Blockchain provides a
sophisticated way to track the history of artworks, ensuring their legitimacy for buyers and
sellers in the art market, where provenance is key. Blockchain can create a time-stamped
record of innovation in the world of patents and innovations, protecting creators from
allegations of prior art. This can also be put to use to transform digital content distribution.
As online piracy and unauthorized sharing continue to plague the entertainment industry,
blockchain's immutable ownership proof can help creators assert their rights. By registering
or adding their digital content to the blockchain they can solidify their ownership and take
swift legal action against copyright infringement. Moreover, the transparency of the
blockchain ensures that all creators, license holders etc can check the validity of ownership
on their own without the help of intermediaries and cumbersome processes. In a world where
the integrity of intellectual property is vital for creators, investors, and consumers alike,
blockchain's ability to provide proof of ownership and authenticity is nothing short of
revolutionary.

Transparent and Tamper-Proof Recordkeeping:

6
In the ever-evolving and complex landscape of intellectual property rights management, the
need for a system of transparent and tamper-proof recording keeping system is of great
significance. Traditional recordkeeping systems have failed in aspects of data opacity,
vulnerabilities to alteration and the cumbersome long verification process. Blockchain
technology promises to bring about a much-needed evolution to recordkeeping by combing
transparency and security in an intricate manner that empowers creators, rights holders and
stakeholders throughout the landscape. Transparent and tamperproof recordkeeping through
blockchain brings about the creation of an incorruptible digital ledger that keeps a record of
every transaction, modification or event related to an asset of IP recorded in the system. As a
result, the historical development of an IP asset transforms into a timeless, unalterable, and
accessible narrative. Moreover, the decentralized system used by blockchain guarantees that
no single person or entity can alter records, which in turn can build an environment of trust.

Automated Licensing through Smart Contracts:

In the intricate landscape of intellectual property (IP) rights management, the sector of
licensing agreements has often been faced with multiple complexities and potential pitfalls.
This age of digital accelerated pace demands swifter and more efficient solutions that can
make such processes faster while safeguarding the interests of all parties involved. This is
where the smart contracts that are available through the blockchain come into play. Smart
contracts promise a shift in the way in which licensing agreements are structured, negotiated
and executed. At the heart of this transformation lies the concept of smart contracts, these
contracts are different from traditional contracts. Smart contracts are self-executing digital
contracts that automatically execute pre-defined actions on their own when certain conditions
are met. Such contracts are coded into a blockchain, allowing them to operate autonomously
and transparently, without the requirement of manual intervention. In an era characterised by
the rapid growth in digital content and cross-border collaboration, the need for such a
licensing system or mechanism is of utmost importance. Traditional licencing agreements can
take a long time to negotiate, draft, and then go through a maze of monitoring and reporting
to make sure that there are no violations and that royalties are being paid. These processes
can many times fail due to human error, misinterpretation of terms and time-consuming
administrative tasks. Smart contracts embedded in blockchain technology provide a secure,
highly efficient and seamless system for licensing. Parties that are involved in the said
agreement can define the terms of the agreement along with the triggers for payment within
the smart contract’s code. Once these conditions have been met they are verified by the
blockchain’s decentralised network. The contract self-executes. This process not only
eliminates the need for intermediaries to oversee the transaction and verify if the agreement is
being complied with but it also helps in reducing the number of potential disputes that
generally arise due to misinterpretation of terms etc. The traditional licensing process
requires intermediaries each adding a level of complexity to the process. Smart contracts,
operating on a trustless blockchain network, eliminate the need for intermediaries to automate
the entire process. Via Smart Contracts blockchain is enhancing transparency, reduces
administrative overheads and fosters trust among stakeholders. The potential of smart
contracts is immeasurable with it having the capability of being applied in almost every
industry. The power of automated licencing through smart contracts is poised to reshape the
IP landscape as industries continue their digital transformation. By ensuring that agreed-upon
terms are faithfully carried out, the integration of blockchain and smart contracts not only
reduces the transactional aspects of licencing but also protects the interests of creators and
rights holders. As a result, an ecosystem for licencing has been created that is distinguished
by effectiveness, accuracy, and the potential for more amicable collaborations in the dynamic
field of intellectual property.

Streamlined Royalty Distribution:

The concept of royalty distribution is central to this ecosystem of Intellectual Property.
Artists and innovators seek to protect their content while taking rewards for their hard work.
Royalty is the mechanism by which creators receive compensation for the use of their
intellectual creations. But, traditional royalty distribution methods have often been filled with
inefficiencies, delays and opacity. In industries such as music, film and literature there are
multiple people or parties involved in the creation of content, and the royalty chain can
become overcrowded. These complexities are then even more worsened by intermediaries
such as publishers, distributors and collecting societies, who play a role in collecting and
distributing royalties. This complex structure leads to delays in payments, disputes over
revenue sharing may arise and there is a complete lack of transparency in the system.
Imaging a situation in the music industry in which a musician writes a new song । Blockchain
allows the artist to record the song's details, ownership rights, and royalty terms । Since the
song is licensed for use in various media, including streaming platforms, radio, and
advertisements, each usage creates a smart contract-driven transaction on the blockchain।
According to the predefined terms, these intelligent contracts automatically calculate and pay
the right royalties to the artist and other rights holders । As there are no intermediaries
involved in the calculation and transfer of funds, this process is both transparent and
instantaneous. This system has also the potential to reduce administrative costs. Traditional
royalty distribution system comprises a complex web of agreement, paperwork and manual
calculations often leading to higher costs. Blockchain reduces administrative costs and
resources that can be utilized elsewhere. As evident blockchain technology can be used for
royalty distribution in all industries ranging from music to art to literary to film. It ensures
that every person gets every penny that they own and that they are being compensated fairly
for the work they have done.

Prevention of Counterfeiting and Piracy:

In such a complex digital landscape of new-age commerce, the issues of counterfeiting and
piracy exist as a major hindrance to industries. They cast a shadow over industries and
economies alike. These nefarious activities pose multifaceted threats, eroding trust,
endangering consumer safety, undermining legitimate businesses, and siphoning revenue
away from rightful creators and producers. Blockchain technology has emerged as a powerful
ally in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy in an era of technological advancement and
global networking. Counterfeiting goods and passing them on to innocent consumers as
genuine has reached staggering levels in the digital age. Piracy is also equally concerning,
where unauthorized reproduction and distribution of copyrighted materials abound. These
activities are found in various sectors, from luxury goods to software and entertainment. This
is also seen at a large scale in the pharmaceutical industry, Imagine consuming a false
medication under the pretence of it being real and then falling ill very badly. Plus the impact
on the businesses this kind of practice is having economically is of huge proportions. Crores
of rupees are stolen from legitimate businesses every year due to this. Blockchain has
systems that can help in this aspect as well. The decentralized system that is at the heart of
the blockchain ensures that records of transactions, manufacturing processes and supply
chains cannot be falsified. By erecting such a transparent and tamper-proof barrier against
counterfeiting and piracy, blockchain increases the trust of consumers. Consumers when
having access to details of authenticity and also with the access to verify authenticity can
verify the products themselves. With such information, they can make informed decisions.
Furthermore, blockchain's global nature helps people around the world fight counterfeiting
and piracy। Stakeholders from all over the world can access and contribute to the ledger due
to its decentralized structure, which encourages international cooperation in the fight against
these unlawful acts. This is especially important when counterfeiters take advantage of
regulatory disparities between different countries. However, Adopting blockchain technology
is not an easy task. Collaboration on a large scale between businesses and the government is
required on a large scale. Also, public awareness in this field can enhance the product
authenticity

Efficient Digital Rights Management (DRM):

Digital content from music and videos to software and literature, forms the majority of
modern intellectual property. As the digital landscape evolves, the challenge of managing and
protecting these assets is becoming increasingly complex. There is a need for Efficient
Digital Rights Management (DRM) which is a crucial enabler of safeguarding copyright
holders’ rights, ensuring fair compensation and maintaining control over the distribution of
their content. The main goal is to achieve a careful balance between allowing authorised use
and preventing unauthorised access or piracy. In a digital setting where content can be easily
copied and shared with the click of a button, this is especially important. DRM has faced a lot
of criticism due to its limitations and a few instruments. Blockchain, with its transparent and
tamper-proof ledger, provides an ideal foundation to lay a system for a DRM. Via a DRM
system based on blockchain, the system can ensure that every transaction related to digital
content is perfectly and timely recorded or added to the blockchain. Also, another aspect is
the “smart contracts” that can be integrated with the DRM. Furthermore, the DRM system
enables copyright holders the discretionary power over who has access to and use of their
content, They can regulate it with ease. They can establish rules like who can access content,
what are the circumstances under which it can be done etc. If the content is being accessed
beyond the terms set by the owner then the blockchain system can revoke access to the
content without any manual intervention. Furthermore, DRM systems' risk of having a single
point of failure or vulnerability is reduced by the decentralised nature of blockchain.
Traditional DRM systems frequently rely on a central authority, which, in the event of a
breach, could result in widespread content security breaches. With blockchain, the system's
resilience and security are guaranteed by the distribution of data across numerous nodes.

Global Collaboration and Cross-Border Protection:

In the digital era, the world is connected at such a level that innovations have to be made to
extend the protection of the rights of the holders beyond national frontiers. The digital era
provided unprecedented growth in collaboration between the creators. But with such
opportunities also arrived the challenges that the creators had to face. Global collaboration is
a cornerstone of the modern economy. Yet this creates many more complexities in IP, What
may be protected under the IP law in one country may not be protected in another country.
Blockchain technology can be applied in this aspect as well. The tamper-proof and
decentralised system can be implemented globally with the digital footprint of contents being
recognised globally. When it comes to cross-border protection of content blockchain’s
decentralized nature plays a vital role in doing so. Due to blockchain's widespread
accessibility, it is possible to independently verify IP ownership and licencing history,
enhancing consistency and reliability in international disputes.

Reduction of Litigation Costs:

 1. Bayer
2. Star India
Corporation
Pvt. Ltd. vsv. Union
Moviestrunk.com
of India (2014)
&Ors.Bombay
(2020)HC6Delhi HC9
Bayer
In this Corporation
case, Plaintiff patented
Star India
a cancer
was a medicine
film production
‘Nexavar’.
and distribution
Indian patentcompany
office while
exercised
the defendant
its rights
ownedand online
granted
streaming
a compulsory
websites. license
The caseof relates
Nexavarto the
to Natco
unauthorized
Pharma. Ltd.
streaming of the
for producing
plaintiff’s film
a generic
on theversion
defendant’s
of it. The
streaming
patent office
website.
hasThe
alsoplaintiff
directed
filed a suit
Natco
for to
infringement
pay royalties of to
copyright.
Bayer, toThe donate
Delhi6000
Highfree
Court
medicine
held the
to the
defendant
public,for
liable to manufacture
infringementthe of medicine
the copyright
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of and
the toplaintiff’s
sell the medicine
work foronly
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India and notcontent
copyrighted to assignwithout
manufacturing
the knowledge
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consent
Meanwhile,
of the plaintiff.
Bayer was
The Court
manufacturing
granted the injunction
the same andmedicine
damagesforanda thus
comparatively
Plaintiff’s higher
exclusive
price
right
than
to what
exploitation
Natco
was re-ensured.
offered to the public. Aggrieved by the patents controller’s decision
Bayer moved to IPAB (Intellectual property appellate board) and filed an
application
In the samewhichway ingot thisrejected.
case through
Bayer blockchain
now filed an technology,
appeal before
one could
the board
have gotten
which was
notified about
alsothis
rejected.
infringement
Bayer Corp.
of one’s
then
right
filed
faster.
an appeal before The Bombay
High Court which held that compulsory licensing of life-saving drugs falls
within the right of the Indian patents office as well as the rule of making
available patented drugs at an affordable price for the general public should be
maintained as per section 82(1)(b) under The Patents Act, 1970. The judgment
passed by The Bombay High Court was later upheld by The Supreme Court.

In this case, as we say that Bayer Corp licensed its patented medicine to Nacto
Pharma Limited, But the company didn’t abide by the terms that were set by
Bayer Corp. If this were set up by blockchain then the smart contract feature
along with the royalty feature would have made this a much smoother affair as
the infringement of right would have been spotted sooner and Bayer Corp
wouldn’t have had to lose so much money in litigation.
If blockchain technology is implemented it would reduce the legal expense of multiple
creators and copyright holders by almost half. With blockchain, there can be hard proof
regarding ownership that can be produced in the court of law which n turn reduces the time
required to fight a case which in turn reduces the money that the creator has to pay the
advocate

Case Laws

Drawbacks of Blockchain
Blockchain technology provides multiple advantages to the IP management system, But
everything has a bad side as two sides to a coin, one must also acknowledge the challenges
that one may face in the implementation of this system. The key drawbacks are as follows:

1. Technical Complexity:
Blockchain technology is very complex and not so easy to use by the general public, A lot of
expenditure will have to be incurred in educating the common man about this system. A
system such as this requires extensive knowledge and expertise. For many organizations, this
will not be possible and this can in turn become a serious barrier to the adoption
2. Scalability Issues
Blockchain networks, mainly the public ones face scalability challenges when there is a
surplus of transactions. Networks such as Bitcoin and Ethereum have encountered multiple
challenges relating to speed and higher fees for transactions during high demand. These
hindrances can hinder the efficient management of data.

3. Energy Consumption:
Blockchain technology uses a lot of electricity to operate. This is due to the various
computational processes that take place to validate transactions and create new blocks.

4. Privacy Concerns:
While blockchain offers transparency through its systems it also raises privacy concerns.
Once data is added to the blockchain it cannot be removed or altered in any way. This creates
a problem as striking a balance between transparency and data privacy can be a complex
endeavour.

5. Loss of Control:
Due to the decentralised nature of blockchain, network users each have a certain amount of
control over data and transactions. This can result in a loss of control over the management of
IP assets, even though it is a strength in terms of transparency and security. For those who are
used to having centralised control over their intellectual property, this might be a cause for
concern.

6. Irreversibility of Transactions:
Once information is added to a blockchain, it cannot be changed. This feature improves
security and prevents tampering, but it can also be problematic if mistakes happen. Errors in
transactions or data entry are difficult to fix and may have expensive consequences.

Can Blockchain technology be implemented in India?

 A hash function is a mathematical function that takes an input (which can be of any size) and produces a fixed-
The integration of blockchain technology into various sectors including intellectual property
length output, typically represented as a hash value or hash code. However, the hash value itself is not an
in India is
encryption very
of the much
input possible.
data, but rather a The
uniqueIndian government's
representation of it. initiatives, such as the National
7
Blockchain Strategy , reflect a growing interest in exploring the potential applications of
blockchain technology. But to implement blockchain technology in India a few changes need
to be made to the existing Copyright Act, 2012.

Required Amendments to the Copyright Act:

1. Recognition of Digital Copyright Registration: The Act should be updated to acknowledge
the validity of copyright registrations conducted through blockchain technology.

2. Validation of Smart Contracts: The Copyright Act could be changed to confirm the legal
enforceability of smart contracts, enabling automated licencing and royalty distribution
through blockchain.

3. Ownership Verification: The ability of blockchain to create unquestionable ownership

records may be recognised by the Copyright Act. Offering a clear and unchangeable history
of copyright ownership would make disputes regarding authorship and originality easier to
resolve.

4. Blockchain as Legal Evidence: The changes should make it clearer whether blockchain-
based data can be used as evidence in copyright-related court cases. This acknowledgement
would highlight the function of blockchain in producing a permanent record of transactions,
supporting the veracity of the evidence provided.

5. Public Domain Management: Blockchain technology could be incorporated into the

Copyright Act to track copyright expiration dates. This would guarantee a precise transfer of
works into the public domain, in line with the Act's goals of encouraging innovation and
knowledge sharing.

6. Cross-Border IP Protection: The Act may be amended to deal with international disputes
involving blockchain-recorded copyright transactions in light of blockchain's potential to
facilitate international collaboration and the protection of IP rights. This would provide a
legal framework for resolving disputes that cross national boundaries.

7
7. Data Privacy and Security: The changes should take into account the privacy issues raised
by blockchain's transparency. Maintaining the confidentiality of sensitive data requires
ensuring compliance with data protection laws while utilising the advantages of blockchain
technology.

8. Establishment of an IP Registry: The creation of a formal blockchain-based IP registry is

an important factor. By centralising copyright data, such a registry could make it easily
available to creators, companies, and the general public. To acknowledge and support the use
of such registries, the Copyright Act may be modified.

While the integration of blockchain technology into India’s IP rights management system
presents various possibilities, it requires careful consideration and a regulatory framework
that considers its unique features, Amendments to the act are necessary to harness the true
potential of blockchain technology.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that India is still a long way from implementing blockchain technology in
the country. But with the implementation of blockchain, many possibilities open up.
Blockchain technology provides us with multiple advantages but at the same time, there are
multiple complications in implementing said technology. The Copy Right Act, of 2012 needs
to be amended on a large scale. But it can be seen that blockchain technology in India is a big
possibility.

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