Digital Copyright Protection in India: Legal Challenges in the Online Gaming Industry

The quick growth of the online gaming market in India has revolutionized the digital entertainment space, and it has given the creative economy a major boost. The growth, however, also revealed gaps in the country's current copyright system, which lags behind in addressing the interactive, user-centered, and ever-evolving character of online games. This article discusses the Indian gaming industry's legal issues with digital copyright protection, including protection of game assets, user-generated content, rights of streaming, and enforcement mechanisms. By comparing international best practices, the article brings into perspective the inadequacies of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, in relation to contemporary technological realities. It also provides suggestions for legislative change, standard licensing models, improved enforcement tools, and stakeholder training. The article contends that a forward-thinking, adaptive legal strategy is required in order to safeguard innovation and maintain India's gaming sector's growth in the digital age.