Amitabh Bachchan‘s father – the late Harivansh Rai Bachchan – was famously known for his literary works. AB Senior has shared his work with the public (through his tweets) on multiple occasions in the past and it’s probably why he’s such a good writer himself – he got it from his father.
He had, up till now, owned the exclusive copyrights to the late Mr. Bachchan’s literary work, but as part of the Copyright Act, 1957, he will no longer own it as 60 years after one’s death, it becomes available to the public as public property. A frazzled and annoyed Big B, took to his blog to make displeasure known. He wrote,
Written copyright and whatever else in the realm, lives 60 years after the passing with the elements of them that be rightful. Really? So, who designed 60 years? Why 60 why not 61, or why not perpetuity! Inheritors that come as natural heirs be natural right holders of creative copyright…right… but after 60 years it’s natural inheritors, after the passing, the heirs become the public at large .. ehh …?
He also added that he thought this was absolute ‘rubbish’,
Who did this intellectual legality, at what context. I believe it initiated in 1957 or so… and (I) am angered by its audacity. So, what gets left as natural heir by father Dr Harivansh Rai Bachchan, after his passing passed 60 years, belongs no longer to his domain or possessive copyright as willed…but becomes for the entire Universe to tread, scratch, mutilate, use in commercial consideration on their own creative discretion ??? Rubbish! I oppose, disagree, lament, dispute, be in variance of, in vehement loud screams of voice. Ever. My inheritance be mine… His writings be his, his heir be me, his writings be mine… Mine. I shall not and will not allow its dilution to the general public. I bring my inherited aesthetics to its creativity… It may be the worst ever… But it is my copyright. Another after the passage of the time recorded will use and design and perform and monetise and make diversions to it at will. Because…it now belongs to the public ..???? Never Never Never…!!!!!
Uh oh. He definitely doesn’t seem too pleased with this and as one would naturally imagine, it’s never easy to part with something that’s so dear to you – especially when it’s your late father’s special literary works.