Technology, Media and Telecom

Indian Courts have consistently upheld the existence of the right to privacy of individuals. While biographies are important sources informing people of the life stories of their leaders and celebrities, it is important for the authors and the publishers to strictly follow the broad principles that have been laid down by the Courts. There are clear guidelines on how only what is in public domain may be reproduced in a publication. What qualifies as public domain, and where might the author be required to produce written consent is an important understanding to avoid injunctions and other repercussions....

Defamation in India is both a civil and a criminal offense. Conceived by Lord Macaulay in 1837 in the first draft of the Indian Penal Code and subsequently codified in 1860, Defamation Laws were along the same lines of the prevailing English law. The UK itself has since decriminalized Criminal Defamation where as Indian Law is unchanged in its stance on the subject. This article looks into the history, the current position of Defamation Law in the country and also at the voices raised against it....