Gandhiji’s work is now open to any publisher to republish without seeking permission or paying royalty to
Navajivan Trust, the sole custodian of Gandhi’s writings and speeches.
Gandhi
“According to section 22 of the Copyright Act, 1957, works of a person go into the public domain 60 calendar years after his or her death.” – source
Essentially, any publisher can simply copy/paste Gandhi works and monetize it.
“Since its inception in 1919, the Navajivan Trust has published some 300 volumes of compilations of his articles, letters and speeches, apart from translations of his autobiography. Unfazed by the expiration of copyright, managing trustee Jitendra Desai reasons: “Even in profiteering, they would propagate Gandhian thought.”
What’s your opinion on Gandhi’s work being open to all? Will it be open for misinterpretation /misuse?
Don’t you think that govt. should have special rules for such works (to not be open to all publishers?), to protect them as-they-were-meant for future generations?
Also read: Gandhi & Web2.0
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Well, there is no need for any special rules like this. In fact expiration of copyrights would enable other publishers to publish it. I don’t think they have so far made it available online (all of it) At least now we can expect it.
However care must be taken to stop any wrongful interpretation of any kind.
I don’t there is any need to protect these works. These ‘Works’ are meant to be out there among people. I guess thats what Gandhi would have expected out of it.
since no publisher can claim rights..its ok. but I think it should open & available on web/wiki. so that people can access it for free (with donate or government funding for maintenance)
of course no special protection is reqd.
why do you even think some such rule should be considered ?
The URL which has word as “also read” doesnt lead to anything.
Please do the needful.
Ravi
Copyright was made for an era in which it made sense to promote literacy.
That is no longer the case.
Today it is far more important to promote learning — the ability to separate the wheat from the chaffe.
We don’t need more published GIGO texts, we need more quality thinking + ideas that work.
Copyright is an outdated technology, it no longer promotes the things we need.
I am shocked that the works were protected by copyright ALL ALONG! I am certain Gandhi himself would never have allowed this.
The official of the Gandhi trust says: “Even in profiteering, they would propagate Gandhian thought.” That’s making a virtue out of a necessity. If propagating of Gandhian thought was so important, why did they corner the market UNTIL NOW? Why did they not allow the propagating of Gandhian thought by keeping Gandhi’s works locked by copyright all along?