India’s film industry is facing a copyright challenge as copyright protection for several old black-and-white films expires. Under India’s copyright framework, films generally receive copyright protection for 60 years from the beginning of the calendar year following their publication.

According to a report by The Economic Times today, the main issue is what happens when these films are colourised or restored after their original copyright has expired. Experts say the law does not clearly explain whether a newly colourised version gets separate copyright protection.

This has become a concern for film owners, restoration companies and colourisation labs because restoring and colourising an old film can cost around Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore. Without clear ownership rights, companies may find it difficult to recover these investments through OTT platforms, FAST channels and international licensing.

Industry players have therefore proposed extending the copyright period for films and bringing it closer to copyright terms followed in some other markets, where protection can extend to 70–95 years. They believe this could help protect film rights and encourage the restoration and preservation of India’s cinematic heritage.