Call For Papers: International Seminar On Music And Copyright Law( NLIU Bhopal)

Music has always been one of the forms of cultural expression, shaping societies, fostering identity, and transcending boundaries of language and geography. In addition to its cultural and emotional significance, music has also become an essential component of the global creative economy, generating substantial revenues and livelihoods for artists, performers, composers, producers, and intermediaries. At the heart of this dynamic lies copyright law, which seeks to protect the creativity of authors and ensure a fair balance between innovation, dissemination, and commercial interests.

The advent of digital technologies has profoundly altered the way music is created, distributed, and consumed. Streaming platforms have replaced traditional physical media, leading to both new opportunities for accessibility and complex legal challenges regarding royalties, licensing, and equitable remuneration. The ease of digital reproduction has also made piracy and unauthorized sharing a concern, affecting the rights and revenues of stakeholders. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence in the creation and reproduction of music has further added novel dimensions to existing copyright frameworks, raising difficult questions about authorship, originality, and ownership.

In India, the Copyright Act, 1957 has undergone amendments to keep pace with changing realities, yet the technological evolution continues to pose challenges in understanding, interpretation and enforcement. Globally, courts and legislatures are grappling with similar concerns, and comparative perspectives can provide valuable insights into developing solutions. In this context, it becomes imperative to deliberate upon the intersections of music and copyright in an academic, policy-oriented, and practice-driven dialogue. An international seminar at NLIU Bhopal under the aegis of the DPIIT IPR Chair will provide a timely platform to bring together diverse stakeholders, generate discourse, and produce actionable outcomes that address both doctrinal and practical aspects of the subject.

Objectives of the Seminar

• To analyse the scope and protection of copyright in musical works in India and abroad.
• To explore contemporary challenges posed by digitization, streaming, and technological advancements.
• To examine the implications of Artificial Intelligence in music creation and copyright protection.
• To engage with industry practices relating to licensing, royalties, and collective management.
• To strengthen dialogue between academia, policymakers, industry stakeholders, and musicians.
• To generate recommendations for policy reforms and enforcement mechanisms in the Indian context.

Themes

• Copyright protection of musical works and sound recordings
• Performer's rights and their enforcement
• Licensing, royalties, and collective rights management in the music industry
• Piracy, streaming, and challenges of digital distribution
• Artificial Intelligence, generative technologies, and authorship in music
• Perspectives on Global Copyright Protection and Music industry
• Judicial trends and case law developments in India and abroad
• Policy challenges and the future of copyright in music

Target Participants

The seminar aims to bring together academicians, researchers, legal practitioners, policymakers, government officials from DPIIT and the Copyright Office, members of the judiciary, music industry professionals, artists, and students with a keen interest in intellectual property rights.

Format and Structure

The seminar will be conducted in strictly offline mode only, with physical sessions hosted at the National Law Institute University, Bhopal. The duration of the seminar will be one day.

Call for Papers:

Academicians, research scholars, legal professionals and students are invited to contribute research papers and presentations on the themes and sub-themes outlined above. Selected papers will be presented during the technical sessions of the seminar. Authors of high-quality papers may be considered for publication in an edited volume or a special issue of a reputed academic journal.

Submission Deadlines:

• Abstracts (max. 300 words): Due by September 15, 2025.
• Confirmation of Abstract selection: September 17, 2025
• Full Papers (3,000–5,000 words): Due by September 20, 2025.

Formatting Guidelines:

• Citation Style: OSCOLA.
• Font: Times New Roman.
• Font Size: 12-point.
• Line Spacing: 1.5

Registration and Abstract Submission Link: https://shorturl.at/Ip6xG

Expected Outcomes

The seminar is expected to contribute to discussions on the field of music copyright, foster collaboration between academia and industry, and generate practical recommendations for policy and legal reforms. Selected papers may be compiled into an edited volume or special journal issue, thereby ensuring dissemination of knowledge and long-term academic impact.

Contact: copyrightmusicseminar@gmail.com

For more details refer to the brochure here.