In INDIAN COMPUTER NETWORK STATE (Microsoft Corp v Mr Yogesh Papat & Anr, 2005 PTC 245 (Del)), the Delhi High Court held that:
Aunauthorised reproduction and sale of software is COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, attracting damages and injunctive relief; courts have awarded substantial damages including exemplary damages
Bsoftware piracy is a minor civil offence with no criminal liability (cf. Microsoft Corp v Mr Yogesh Papat, 2005 PTC 245 (Del); Microsoft Corp v K. Mayuri & Anr, 2007 (35) PTC 415 (Del))
Csoftware piracy is criminally permissible if the software is widely available (cf. Microsoft Corp v Mr Yogesh Papat, 2005 PTC 245 (Del); Microsoft Corp v K. Mayuri & Anr, 2007 (35) PTC 415 (Del))
Dsoftware piracy is not actionable at all under Indian law (cf. Microsoft Corp v Mr Yogesh Papat, 2005 PTC 245 (Del); Microsoft Corp v K. Mayuri & Anr, 2007 (35) PTC 415 (Del))
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. unauthorised reproduction and sale of software is COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT, attracting damages and injunctive relief; courts have awarded substantial damages including exemplary damages
1. Indian courts have repeatedly affirmed that unauthorised reproduction, sale and distribution of software constitutes COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT under Sections 51, 63 Copyright Act 1957.
2. Microsoft Corp v. Yogesh Papat (Delhi HC, 2005) awarded Rs 19 lakh in damages including exemplary damages.
3. Microsoft Corp v. K. Mayuri (Delhi HC, 2007) and several other 'John Doe' orders have addressed software piracy.
4. Section 65A Copyright Act (inserted 2012) criminalises circumvention of TPMs.
5. Section 14(b) gives software owners broader rights including commercial rental.
6. Hence option B is correct.
_Source: Patents Act 1970 / Copyright Act 1957 / Trade Marks Act 1999 — Microsoft Corp v Mr Yogesh Papat, 2005 PTC 245 (Del); Microsoft Corp v K. Mayuri & Anr, 2007 (35) PTC 415 (Del)_
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