No copyright on Gita but adaptations protected: HC

THE Delhi High Court has observed that no copyright can be claimed on religious scriptures while its adaptations including those providing explanation, summary, meaning, interpretation or creating any audio visual works like the Ramayana television series or B.R. Chopra's Mahabharata and dramatic works would be entitled to copyright protection since they would be original works of the authors themselves.

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With this observation, the high court also restrained several entities from reproducing and disseminating content belonging to Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada.

Dealing with the trust's lawsuit, Justice Prathiba M Singh said, "Copyright would vest in original parts of works which preach, teach or explain the scripture and the piracy of such copyrighted works of the plaintiff cannot be permitted."