CHAPTER V
BOOK PROMOTION AND COPYRIGHT
 

Books continue to play a dominant role in the development and dissemination of knowledge notwithstanding the growth of mass media of several kinds following the technological revolution. Realising that the supply of text books, reference books and other reading material in adequate number and at moderate prices is essential for the development of educational programmes, this Ministry has taken several measures for the production and promotion of books. Some of the more important programmes undertaken in this regard are briefly described below.

National Book Trust `2

The National Book Trust was set up in 1957 with the objectives of producing good reading material at moderate prices and fostering bookmindedness among the people.

The Trust brings out in Indian languages as well as in English, books which are intended for the general reading public especially those who do not have the advantage of higher education. The Trust publishes such books as may not be attractive to commercial publishers, in well conceived series, viz., `India the Land and People', `National Biography', `Popular Science' `Outstanding Books of the World', `World of Today', `Folklore of India and `Young India Library', besides bringing out a number of books of general nature outside such series. During 1977-78, upto the end of November, 1977 the Trust brought out 122 title, in its various series bringing the total number of publications so far brought out to 962.

In pursuance of the objective of fostering book-mindedness, the Trust organises national book fairs, regional book exhibitions etc. and also arranges seminars, symposia, workshops and training courses on various problems connected with the writing, translation, and distribution of books. During 1977-78, the Trust organised a series of regional book exhibitions in Jammu & Kashmir. Synchronising with the regional book exhibitions, the Trust also organised a Seminar on "Urdu Publishing in the Coming Decade", at Srinagar, from 18-20 June, 1977. The Trust also organised a three-day seminar on "Tamil publishing in the Next

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Decade". So far, the Trust has organised 8 national book fairs,more than 80 book exhibitions and several seminars, workshops etc.

In addition to the above, the Trust continued to implement other important schemes, such as the Andan-Paradan, the Scheme for Subsidised Publication University Level Books in English by Indian authors, organising World Book Fair, etc.

Under this Scheme, the Trust brings out translations of repre- sentative books in one language, into a number of other Indian languages, to enable the readers of one linguistic region to under stand and appreciate the way of life and creative works of other regions and thus promote inter-regional understanding. During 1977- 78, upto the end of November. 1977 the Trust brought out 47 translations. Since the inception of the scheme in 1969, so far, about 369 titles have been brought out.

In order to provide suitable university level books in English at low prices and make them economically competitive with foreign subsidised books, and with a view to encouraging Indian authorship a scheme for subsidised publication of university level books n English is being operated since 1970. During 1977-78, upto the end of November 1977, the publication of 30 books was subsidised bringing the total number of books subsidised under the scheme to 207.

The Trust has already organised, in cooperation with the Indian book industry, two world book fairs, in 1972 and 1976, both at New Delhi: The third World Book Fair was held by the Trust at New Delhi from 11th to 20th February, 1978. The foreign countries who participated in the Fair were : the USSR, the USA, the UK, the Federal Republic of Germany, the German Democratic Republic, Holland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Rumania, Switzerland, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Singapore, Japan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Yugoslavia and New Zealand. About 60 publishing organisations from 35 foreign countries as well as about 400 Indian publishers participated in the

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Fair. About 2,00,000 books were displayed. One of the High lights of the Fair was an International Semnar on Educational Publishing in the Developing Countries' organised by the Trust from 12-15 February 1978. A number of publishing experts from India and abroad participated in the seminar. Various other organisations like the Federation of Indian Publishers, the Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Association in India, the Akhil Bhartiya Hindi Prakashak Sangh, and the Indian Librarians Associations organised various programmes of seminars, symposia and workshops in the field of writing, publishing and library services in India. With financial assistance from the Government of India, the Authors Guild of India held their fourth National Convention of Authors. The India International Centre also organised a workshop for Asian writers in February, 1978 with suitable financial assistance from the Government of India.

With the objective of making available to our university stu- dents, low priced editions of standard university text books and reference material of foreign origin, three programmes are being operated in collaboration with the Governments of UK (English Language Book Society Series, since 1960), USA (Joint Indo-American Standard Works Programme, since 1961), and the USSR (Joint Indo-Soviet Text book Programme since 1965). The books brought out under all the three programmes are approved by the Government of India in consultation with expert agencies such as the UGC, the ICAR, the DGHS, etc. Titles are normally evaluated from the point of view of their suitability and usefulness to the students. As a general rule if equally good books by Indian authors are available, the foreign titles are not recom- mended for publication under these programmes. Efforts are also made to secure that only the latest editions of the approved titles are republished under these programmes.

While under the UK and the USSR Programmes, the selected books are published in the respective countries and imported into and marketed in India through the normal trade channels, under the Indo- American Programme, the selected books are published in India in low priced editions by Indian Publishers with a suitable subsidy from the USIS out of PL 480 Rupee Funds and marketed through the normal trade channels. The prices of the books reprinted under these programmes are 1/3rd to 1/5th of the original standard editions.

So far,about 650 British, 1460 American and 300 Soviet books have been brought out in low priced editions under these programmes.

As part of the Indo-Soviet textbooks programme scholarships are being awarded annually to about 5 Indian scholars in different disciplines, to enable them to about 5 Indian scholars in different disciplines, to enable them to receive training in the USSR in translation techniques. So far 25 Indian scholars have received the training. With the help of two of these scholars, two Soviet technical books have been got translated into English. The Soviet authorities have agreed to suitably edit and publish these translation in the USSR under the Indo-Soviet Programme. They are expected to be published by end of 1978 or beginning of 1979.

The Indo-Soviet Textbook Board, which was set up in 1965 with the Union Education Secretary as Chairman and five members each from the Soviet and Indian sides, to lay down the broad policy for the implementation of Indo-Soviet Programme and to monitor its progress, held its tenth meeting at New Delhi. in January 1978. The Board decided that pending adoption of measures for teaching Russian language to students and scholars in large numbers, to enable them to have direct access to the vast knowledge in the USSR, the present programme of translation of Soviet titles into English may be continued. The Board also considered various measures necessary for the speedy and effective implementation of the Indo-Soviet Programme, and made several recommendations.

(1) The Indian side will identify select courses in priority fields of academic instruction and send the syllabi in respect of these courses to the Soviet side, to enable them to identify suitable Soviet titles in respect of such syllabii and supply copies of the titles.

(2) In addition to identifying suitable Soviet titles from the Soviet plans of publications which are made available by the Soviet side, from time to time, the Indian side may obtain, from the Indian scholars studying/studied in the USSR, information about Soviet books based on their knowledge and closer association with the Soviet background,so that suitable books could be identified in the Indian context.

(3) The Soviet side may also make available to the Indian side copies of all their textbooks and reference books

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in the selected fields referred to at (1) above, which will be set up as a reference library to enable the Indian side to select, from time to time, books suitable for publication under the Programme. The Soviet side may also consider sending to this library copies of all their technical journals and periodicals in respect of areas and subject fields identified by Indian side.

(4) A minimum number of 25 books will be brought out under the programme before the Board meets next.

(5) Facilities for learning Russian language in India may be augmented, particularly at the post-graduate and post-doctoral levels to enable more and more Indian scholars to have a working knowledge of Russian language as adopted for specific subjects of learning such a medicine, engineering, etc. This would enable Indian scholars to study Soviet books in original instead of translations. The Soviet side will give all assistance by making available the methodology, teaching materials and training aids.

(6) In order to monitor the progress of the Indo- Soviet programme more effectively, two standing bodies, one in Moscow and the other in Delhi, will be set up.

As part of their programmes to produce University level books in Indian languages, the State Governments have been bringing out translations into Indian languages of suitable foreign books. To facilitate the work of obtaining translation rights from foreign copyright owners in regard to books selected by the State Governments and to provide co-ordination, the Copyright licences are negotiated centrally on behalf of the State Governments. During 1977-78, 34 contracts for translation rights were executed, bringing the total to 1429 contracts with the American, British and other foreign publishers.

The National Book Development Board was set up in 1967 as an advisory body to lay down the guidelines for the development of Indian book Industry and trade in the context of the overall requirements of the country. The Board was reconstituted

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with some added functions in 1970. The three year term of the Board having expired in February, 1974, it is proposed to reconstitute the Board further for a third term. On the Board will be represented various Ministries concerned, government publishing agencies, publishers, booksellers, authors, scientists and other various interests of the book industry.

During its tenure of six years, the Board identified vital areas in the field of book promotion of Indian book industry and recommendations for the promotion of Indian book industry and trade. Some of the achievements for the promotion include (a) tax relief to book publishers, (b) organisation of training courses and seminars for the book industry personnel, (c) postal concessions for book parcels and expansion of the export of Indian books.

A substantial reduction has been made in the tax rates on royalty remittances from India with effect from 1st April, 1977 In the past copyright royalties remitted abroad were taxed @ 70% if the agreements between the foreign copyright owner and the Indian publishers were not approved by the Government of India. This formality of agreements being approved by the Government has been waived in respect of books on educational, scientific and technical subjects covered by List I in Appendix 21 of the Import Trade Control Policy for 1977-78. The effect of this amendment would be that royalties payable in respect of any book in any of these subjects, will be taxed at the confessional rate of 40% irrespective of the fact whether the agreement is approved by the Government of India or not. This would result in an easier flow to India of reprint or translation rights of standard foreign books.

Import Policy

Import Policy for Books-The import policy for books, journals, magazines, children's literature and other educational material is laid down by the Chief Controller of Imports and Exports in consultation with this Ministry.

Import Policy for Books, journals, news-magazines, etc., has been substantially liberalised in the current year. As a result, any individual, dealer, institution and others can import educational scientific and technical books; educational scientific and technical journals; news-magazines and news-papers devoted to

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Science and Technology without an import licence and without any monetary or quantitative restrictions.

The established importers are allowed quota licence, for import of books, non-technical journals and children's books up to 100% of their basic quota. Within their basic quota they can import fiction up to 10%, non-technical journals upto 40% and children's literature up to 50%, if they so choose.

Newcomers to the import trade of books who had been in the internal trade of books for a minimum period of one full year and had an annual internal purchase/sale turn over of Rs. 50,000 are also allowed import licences for import of books up to 40% of their purchase/sale turn over on Rs. 4 lakhs whichever is more depending upto the number of years they had been in the internal trade of books.

The State Trading Corporation which had, for the first time, taken up the import of scientific and technical journals in 1973-74 is continuing to assist the universities and other institutions of higher learning and arranging imports of such journals for their use. The STC has gradually extended their services to cover a larger number of such institutions.

To ensure that imported material does not impede the development of indigenous books, the import of books of which latest Indian reprints are available, is not permitted. The importers are also exhorted to import latest editions of foreign books so as to prevent the import of out-dated books.

Teaching aids including micro-films, filmstrips and microfiches are also allowed import against quota licence for books.

Relief has also been provided to artists for import of artists material including oil colour, hand-made paper, etc. by raising the previous limit of Rs. 150/- to Rs. 600/- for import of such artists material without a licence at a time.

India as one of the leading publishing countries in the world has a growing potential for exporting books not only to established markets like the UK and the USA but to new markets in South-East, West Asia and Africa.

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During 1977-78 India participated in the Festival of Books and Book Fair held in Singapore from August 26 to September 4, 1977, International Book Fair held in Moscow from September 6-14, 1977, International Book Fair, Frankfurt from October 12-17, 1977, International Book Fair, Belgrade from October 24-31, 1977, International Children's Book Exhibition, Ankara from November 7-13, 1977, Cairo Book Fair from 26th January to 6th February, 1978. Books were sent for display in the, International Fair for Children's drawings in Baghdad in April, 1977, Indian Trade Exhibition in Koala Lumpur from April 10-20, 1977, International Book Fair, Amman in April, 1977, Indian Trade Fair, Tanzania from August 1-9, 1977, Indian Fete held in Geneva from September 23-25, 1977, National Book Exhibition held in Accra from November 6-12, 1977. Special Exhibitions of Indian books were organised with the assistance of Indian Missions abroad In Bucharest (from August 5-20, 1977), Kuala Lumpur (from September 19-23, 1977) and Hong Kong (from October 3-16, 1977).

With a view to promoting the export of books and publications, the Ministry continued to obtain market survey reports through Indian Missions abroad which were circulated among the various publishers and booksellers through their federations. With a view to apprising foreign importers about the latest books published in India, the National Book Trust were assisted to bring out annotated subject catalogues and the Federation of Publishers and Book-sellers Association were assisted for bringing out a Journal "Recent Indian Books".

The Centre was set up in 1972 as a nucleus for an information centre for the publishing industry and for documentation and statistical analysis of import documents. The Centre maintains a textbook reference library for the use of authors, publishers etc. to enable them to survey the availability of books in different fields and plan fresh publications. The library has a large collection of about 37,?00-volumes of books by Indian authors published since 1965, in English and in regional languages in different disciplines as well as books published under the three programmes in collaboration with the Governments of the UK, the USA and the USSR. Some of the other activities of the Centre during the year are as under :

The Centre organises periodically, exhibitions at university centres, to bring to the notice of the students and teachers, the

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availability of university level books published in the country. During the year under review the Centre organised 4 such exhibitions at the Universities of Marathawada, Kurukshetra, Sagar and Allahabad.

The Centre arranges evaluation by subject experts, of selected books in different disciplines to assess their suitability for use in various universities etc., so that they could be increasingly used instead of foreign or imported books. During the year about 230 books in English, Hindi, Marathi and Assamese languages were were evaluated. The particulars of the titles that were found standard have been circulated to the universities etc.

To formulate a meaningful policy for the import of books into the country, the NERC is-currently busy scrutinizing the import documents of about 35 established importers in India who hold licences of the value of Rs. 10.00 lakhs or more for import, of books. The first survey report brought out in June 1977 in respect of 8 leading importers, mainly consisted of such titles of which 200 copies and above were imported into the country during the year 1975-76. So far the Centre has completed analysing invoices/indents received from 11 leading importers and is preparing master index cards for computerisation.

The Federation of Publishers and Booksellers Associations in India compiled a National Catalogue of University Level Books covering the period 1965-70, with financial assistance from the Ministry of Education. On its establishment in 1972 the Centre was entrusted with the responsibility to keep this Catalogue up-to-date by bringing out quarterly supplements. So far, the Centre has brought out 29 supplements to the National Catalogue and is engaged in bringing out a cumulative volume of all the supplements.

The Centre undertakes on or in anticipation of demand compilation of bibliographies on topics of interest to authors and publishers of university level books. The bibliographies have been planned to be brought out in fascicules at regular intervals and cumulated and printed biennially. In 1977-78, the Centre has compiled 4th and 5th fascicules of the bibliography.

The NERC has been appointed as an agency at National level to operate the International Standard Book Numbering System in India. The Centre is dispatching introductory letter, alongwith a questionnaire to all the Indian publishers to collect relevant data for operating this system.

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The Copyright Board, reconstituted with effect from 24th September, 1976, in pursuance of Section 11 of the Copyright Act, 1957 (14 of 1957) with Justice Hardayal Hardy, retired Chief Justice, Delhi High Court, as its Chairman, held seven meetings during the year 1977, heard 62 cases and decided 39 cases.

During the year 1977, 2982 works were registered in the Copyright Office for Copyright out of which 2473 were artistic and 569 literary works. In addition, changes in the Register of Copyrights were registered for 43 cases.

India participated in the meetings of the (a) WIPO Permanent Committee for Development Cooperation related to Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (1st Session ), (b) Administrative bodies of WIPO, (c) Intergovernmental Copyright Committee established under the, Universal Copyright Convention, (d) Executive Committee of Berne Union and (e) Intergovernment Committee of the International (Rome) Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations. India was elected as Chairman of the WIPO Coordination Committee.

Tax relief to Authors

The Government of India has decided to provide further relief to authors in order to encourage creative talent. With effect from the financial year 1977-78, in case of income from royalties or writings to Indian authors up to Rs. 25,000/- per year, claims of expenses to the extent of 25% of such amount or Rs. 5,000 whichever is less, will be allowed without the production of any documentary evidence and will not, therefore, be subject to taxation. This also applies to cases where the total taxable income is more than Rs. 25,000/- but the expenses, claimed on writing do not exceed Rs. 5,000/- provided the income, from writing alone is not more than Rs. 25,000/-. The relaxation does not however, apply to authors or writers who write stories, screen plays and dialogues for films.

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