COPYRIGHT LAW AND DIGITAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: A STUDY OF FAIR DEALING AND ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS
AUTHOR – NANDINI RANA, LL.M. SCHOLAR, AMITY LAW SCHOOL, AMITY UNIVERSITY UTTAR PRADESH, NOIDA
BEST CITATION – NANDINI RANA, COPYRIGHT LAW AND DIGITAL EDUCATION IN INDIA: A STUDY OF FAIR DEALING AND ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORMS, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (5) OF 2026, PG. 210-218, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
The rapid proliferation of digital technology has fundamentally transformed the landscape of education in India, giving rise to a burgeoning ecosystem of online learning platforms, massive open online courses (MOOCs), and government-sponsored digital educational infrastructure. This transformation has generated significant tensions between the proprietary rights of copyright holders and the public interest in ensuring wide and affordable access to educational content. The Copyright Act, 1957, through its fair dealing provisions under Section 52, attempts to balance these competing interests by creating exceptions for educational uses of copyrighted works. However, the adequacy of these provisions in the context of digital education remains seriously contested. This article undertakes a comprehensive legal analysis of the interface between copyright law and digital education in India, critically examining the doctrine of fair dealing under Section 52 and its application to online learning platforms. Through comparative analysis of frameworks in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the European Union, this article identifies international best practices and proposes targeted legislative, policy, and institutional reforms to create a technology-neutral, purpose-oriented fair dealing framework adequate for India’s rapidly expanding digital education sector.
Keywords: Copyright Act 1957, Fair Dealing, Section 52, Digital Education, Online Learning Platforms, EdTech, Technological Protection Measures, Open Educational Resources, SWAYAM, NPTEL, DU Photocopy Case