Joint Statement Issued by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Taylor & Francis, Association of Publishers in India, Federation of India Publishers and the Indian Reprographic Rights Organization (IRRO)

“We have carefully considered the Hon’ble Delhi High Court’s judgment dated 16 September, and have decided to file an appeal against this judgment.

This decision has been taken after careful deliberation, particularly regarding the longer-term interests of students, educators, academics, authors and the publishing industry, and it is fully supported by the Association of Publishers India, the Federation of Indian Publishers and the Indian Reprographic Rights Organisation, which also represents authors.

We agree that equitable access to knowledge is important. But such access would not exist without the efforts of content creators, authors, illustrators, designers, publishers and everyone else involved in the creation and dissemination of original content, and their rights must be respected. Access to knowledge will be reduced if this ceases to happen, which we believe is detrimental to the interests of India’s knowledge economy.

We fully understand that it is not possible for every student to buy every book they require. That is why we have long invested in local publishing options that aid in the development of low-cost editions, course-packs, adaptations and reprint titles, as well as supporting local and university libraries – all of which provides access to the best-in-class learning material at a fraction of the original cost.

Through this appeal, we seek assurance that copyright law in India will balance the interests of those creating learning materials here in India as well as globally, with those requiring access to them in a fair and sustainable manner.”