Copyright Law and Online Higher Education: Access to Knowledge and Emerging Legal Challenges

The rapid advancement of technological tools in the Internet era has led to the widespread adoption of online education models such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), webinars, and live online classes. This shift was further accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which required educational institutions to move to online teaching and learning. Online education enhances access to higher education by reducing physical, geographical, and financial barriers. However, the legal challenges of online higher education remain underexplored in the Indian context, particularly concerning authorship and ownership of educational content. This article examines these issues with a focus on copyright challenges faced by educators and institutions. Using a comparative doctrinal analysis of copyright laws across jurisdictions, the study demonstrates that insufficient awareness of copyright complexities may hinder the effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge.