Academic Access And Copyright Boundaries: A Comparative Policy Study Of Uppsala University, Harvard University, And IIT Bombay
- IJLLR Journal
- Jan 25
- 2 min read
Aditya Singh, Kirit P Mehta School of Law, NMIMS Mumbai
Pragati Kothari, Kirit P Mehta School of Law, NMIMS Mumbai
I. ABSTRACT
This paper undertakes a comparative study of institutional intellectual property (IP) policies at Harvard University, Uppsala University, and the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), situating them within broader legal and policy frameworks. The analysis highlights how national legal traditions and socio-economic contexts shape institutional choices in balancing innovation, ownership, and public interest. Harvard’s centralized and revenue-sharing model reflects the U.S. emphasis on commercialization and technology transfer, positioning universities as active stakeholders in the innovation economy. Uppsala, by contrast, embodies Sweden’s “professor’s privilege,” privileging academic freedom and individual autonomy, while IIT Bombay adopts a hybrid framework aligned with India’s transitional landscape, combining institutional oversight with strong creator incentives.
The paper extends this institutional comparison to copyright law, focusing on educational exceptions under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957. Judicial interpretations such as Rameshwari Photocopy Services illustrate India’s expansive view of “fair dealing,” consistent with global findings by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) that exceptions must remain flexible to support diverse educational practices. Parallel developments in India’s patent ecosystem, where domestic filings have recently overtaken foreign ones, underscore the urgency of effective institutional IP governance in strengthening national innovation capacity.
Finally, the paper engages with emerging debates on generative artificial intelligence and copyright. By analysing recent U.S. jurisprudence and contrasting institutional preparedness, it argues that robust yet adaptive IP strategies are essential to reconcile innovation, rights protection, and public access. The study concludes that effective governance requires a three-way balance between incentivizing creators, safeguarding rights, and advancing the public good.
Keywords: Intellectual Property, Institutional Policies, Copyright Exceptions, Generative AI, Public Interest.
