Copyright Violators Warned by all Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association

‘Books are our best friends’, is a phrase that we have come across from time to time. Undoubtedly, books aids in expanding our thinking-process with virtuous and good knowledge. We are ever-thankful to those authors who put their heart and soul while jotting down these literal masterpieces. Talking about publicizing the literary works, the authors usually grant content rights along with appropriate copyright licenses to the publishing houses, which thereby, prints and distributes the books, embodied with content, scribbled by the author. In simple terms, the author transfers complete ownership rights to the publishers. Thus, it can be concluded the most valuable saving grace of publishers are those copyrighted writings in their books. For the most parts, while dealing with legal hurdles, publishers take the shelter of the Copyright Laws and in some cases, the defamation laws.

It can be asserted without a shadow of doubt that fan-following of print books is still up-top, as the pleasures of touching nice and soft pages of these literal compilations is hard to be compared with those computer-screen PDF books. Of course! The growing technology has made people addicted to E-books by reason of easy accessibility and feasibility. The worst part of all of this is, the engagement of hard-working authors in long-winded legal disputes, merely trying to prevent their works from illicit reproductions by unlicensed parties. Aggrieved by the same, All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association were left with no choice but to warn those who illegally circulated PDF versions of Assamese classic books.

Especially in the wake of lockdown amid the coronavirus, sheer numbers of PDF files consisting of literary works by Assamese writers are being forwarded by various unlicensed sources. The count of malfeasants is ever-increasing despite of clear indication on the hard-copies, that no part shall be “reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise”, without prior permission from the entities concerned, as the same would amount to Copyright violation. In point of fact, no legible PDF version of such books were ever formulated or authorized by the authors.

Ironically, the warning was issued on April 23rd that marks World Book and Copyright Day. This day was given a special mention to honour authors and their literary works on international scale during the 1995 UNESCO General Conference at Paris.

“Sharing PDF copies without permission is an illegal act and it violates the Copyright Act. The association will take legal action against it”, warned Dhiraj Goswami, Secretary of All Assam Publishers and Book Sellers Association. A Guwahati-based publisher Ananta Hazarika added, “A considerable amount of money is involved in publication of books and free distribution of digital formats such as PDF results in loss. It is a form piracy, which necessitates legal action.”