Presented by Mr. Ganesh Shrirang Satarkar, Central University of Haryana, at the One-Day National Seminar on "Copyright and Databases in the Digital Age: Balancing Protection, Innovation, and Access for Viksit Bharat 2047," organized by Maharashtra N

Presented by Mr. Ganesh Shrirang Satarkar, Central University of Haryana, at the One-Day National Seminar on “Copyright and Databases in the Digital Age: Balancing Protection, Innovation, and Access for Viksit Bharat 2047,” organized by Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur. This paper examines the evolving relationship between data sovereignty, copyright law, and innovation in the context of India’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047. In an era where data functions as both a national asset and a driver of technological progress, the legal framework for governing databases has gained critical significance. The study evaluates the adequacy of India’s Copyright Act, 1957 in addressing challenges posed by AI-generated datasets, big data, cloud environments, and emerging digital ecosystems. Drawing from comparative models such as the European Union’s Sui Generis Database Directive, the paper highlights gaps in Indian law, particularly concerning protection for non-original databases and investment-based rights. It further analyses the implications of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, the proposed Digital India Act, and open-data initiatives on future governance models. The paper proposes a hybrid legal framework combining copyright reform, technological transparency, data ethics, and national security needs to ensure a balanced, innovation-friendly ecosystem essential to realizing India’s developmental goals for 2047.