Three publishing houses have initiated proceedings against a Delhi University photocopy shop
MUMBAI: At a photocopy shop at Churchgate, copies of BR Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste and Gloria Mayer’s Men of Brewster Place are whizzing out of the photocopy machine.“We see a l ot of college crowd coming here, as students are very dependent on photocopying,” said the shop owner.
Yet, this is a way of life that is now potentially under siege. Last week, after three publishing houses – Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor and Francis – initiated proceedings against a Delhi University photocopy shop for copyright violations, many students protested.
In the city too, across colleges, departments and courses, students cannot imagine a life without photocopies.
“Our student lives practically run on photocopying, and it would be a big blow to us if it was taken away,” said Radhika Agarwal, 20, a third year BMM student at St Xavier’s College, Dhobi Talao.
Agarwal said that students from economically weaker sections of
society rely heavily on photocopies. Books are hard to find, and often
you only need a chapter or two for reference. The other alternative,
which is printing material off the internet, is more costly.
“Many books are not easily available in India and have to be imported, hence are expensive,” said Chubita Tari, 22, a fourth year student at Bombay Veterinary College, Parel.
Photocopying is an integral part of the higher education system, with photocopy machines housed within libraries, teachers circulating readings and reproduction of l ecture notes on a routine basis.
“It i s not feasible to buy every book,” said PG Jogdand, dean of the faculty of arts at Mumbai University. “Students don’t always have t o read t he entire book.” Often t eachers prescribe select readings or sections f rom particular books as there aren’t always set textbooks to follow.
In some colleges, teachers encourage students to avoid photocopying given the ethical violations involved. “We have been strictly told by our teachers to avoid photocopying,” said Gayatri Gulvady, 19, a third year BA Psychology student at SIES College, Sion. “It’s unethical to photocopy material without taking permission. That’s t aking something for granted, which is just not fair.”
Yet, several photocopy shops, which sell photocopies of entire t ext books and guides at lower costs than the original, continue to do brisk business.
“Many books are not easily available in India and have to be imported, hence are expensive,” said Chubita Tari, 22, a fourth year student at Bombay Veterinary College, Parel.
Photocopying is an integral part of the higher education system, with photocopy machines housed within libraries, teachers circulating readings and reproduction of l ecture notes on a routine basis.
“It i s not feasible to buy every book,” said PG Jogdand, dean of the faculty of arts at Mumbai University. “Students don’t always have t o read t he entire book.” Often t eachers prescribe select readings or sections f rom particular books as there aren’t always set textbooks to follow.
In some colleges, teachers encourage students to avoid photocopying given the ethical violations involved. “We have been strictly told by our teachers to avoid photocopying,” said Gayatri Gulvady, 19, a third year BA Psychology student at SIES College, Sion. “It’s unethical to photocopy material without taking permission. That’s t aking something for granted, which is just not fair.”
Yet, several photocopy shops, which sell photocopies of entire t ext books and guides at lower costs than the original, continue to do brisk business.
PHOTOCOPYING(zerox or xerox) PUBLICATIONS ILLEGAL AND UNAUTHORISED, SAY PUBLISHERS
WHAT IS COPYRIGHT?
I LLUSTRATION: SHRIKRISHNA PATKAR
Copyright gives the
creator of a work the right to be credited for that material and to control who may use, adapt or benefit from it financially. It is a form of intellectual property. Permission to reproduce the material needs to be taken from the copyright holder.
I LLUSTRATION: SHRIKRISHNA PATKAR
Copyright gives the
creator of a work the right to be credited for that material and to control who may use, adapt or benefit from it financially. It is a form of intellectual property. Permission to reproduce the material needs to be taken from the copyright holder.
WHY HAVE THE PUBLISHERS GONE TO COURT?
Three publishers— Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor and Francis, have gone to court against Rameshwari Photocopy Service at Delhi University. The publishers told the Delhi high court that the shop was photocopying their publications and issuing them in the “most unauthorised and illegal manner”. They also said that it should be stopped immediately as this could result in losses for them.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
By way of a solution to students, the Indian Reprographics Registration Organisation, which represents authors and publishers of literary works, has said that it can provide a licence to photocopiers to pay to reproduce sections of a book.
Three publishers— Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press and Taylor and Francis, have gone to court against Rameshwari Photocopy Service at Delhi University. The publishers told the Delhi high court that the shop was photocopying their publications and issuing them in the “most unauthorised and illegal manner”. They also said that it should be stopped immediately as this could result in losses for them.
IS THERE A SOLUTION?
By way of a solution to students, the Indian Reprographics Registration Organisation, which represents authors and publishers of literary works, has said that it can provide a licence to photocopiers to pay to reproduce sections of a book.
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