NCERT Warns Against Copyright Infringement Of Education Materials
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a warning against copyright infringement of its educational materials originally published by the council. The prohibition was issued as it was noticed that some publishers are printing NCERT school textbooks available on the NCERT website in their name without obtaining permission from the council, the official notification said. However, publishing houses or entities are required to obtain the National Council’s prior permission to publish these textbooks and that has to be in the name of NCERT instead of their names.
Publishing any material without obtaining NCERT permission violates the council’s copyright over the original content. NCERT website warns against republication of the textbooks in electronic or print versions. It also prohibits the use of NCERT online books as a part of digital content packages or software. To discourage piracy the online textbooks carry a watermark on all pages declaring the copyright of the NCERT. It asks users not to buy textbooks without watermarks.
What does the notification say?
The council warned that publication of the NCERT textbooks without its permission will violate the copyright and be subject to legal proceedings. The NCERT said, “Anyone individual or entity who publishes for commercial sale, NCERT textbooks in whole or in part or uses the NCERT textbook content in such publication, without obtaining the copyright permission from NCERT, shall be proceeded against by the Copyright Act 1957.”
PRESS RELEASE – Advisory on Copyrights Infringement in use of Educational Materials designed and developed by NCERT is herewith released as public notice. Stakeholders are requested to honour the Copyrights Advisory issued by NCERT in letter and spirit.
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— NCERT (@ncert) April 7, 2024
It also advised users to buy the original copies published by NCERT instead of buying them from such unscrupulous publishers as this may contain factually incorrect information and is against the basic philosophy of NCF 2003.
NCERT asked users for their cooperation to file complaints if they come across any such pirated study material that is published by unauthorized entities.
Publishing houses desirous of using the name NCERT in their publications have been asked by the NCERT to send a proposal to the publication division for permission to print copies.
NCERT is an advisory body in the field of school education which is responsible for developing and disseminating textbooks for all stages of school education. The National Council also works as the authorized repository of educational teaching and learning resources.
