WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT)

• Full Form: WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT).
• Organisation: WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization).
• Adopted: 20 December 1996, Geneva.
• Effective: 6 March 2002.
• Nature: It is a special agreement under the Berne Convention.
• Topic: Safeguarding copyright in a digital environment.
• Digital Works: Any computer program and any original database/compilation (sui generis right).
• Rights: Grants authors rights including distribution, rental and making copies available to the public.
• Technological Measures: Work must be protected by internationally agreed legal remedies against circumvention of any technological measures inserted by authors to protect their works.
• Electronic Rights Management Information: Protects against removal or alteration of electronic rights management information without authority.
• India: India is a contracting party to the WCT.
• Indian Copyright Law: The Copyright Act, 1957, as amended in the year 2012, provisions concerning the digital environment.

Prelims MCQ

Q1. This is the most important thing to keep in mind about the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT):

1. It was adopted under the framework of WIPO.
2. It deals especially with copyright safeguard in the digital space.
3. A particular treaty under Berne Convention.
4. It relates to technological measures and rights management information.

How many of the above statements are correct?

• (a) 1 and 2 only
• (b) 1, 2 and 3 only
• (c) 2, 3 and 4 only
• (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation: The WCT is the treaty within WIPO that was adopted in 1996 and establishes international standards for copyright protection in the digital environment and includes provisions related to technological protection measures (TPM) and rights management information.