Copyright in the Metaverse: Legal Realities for Indian Creators in 2026

Copyright in the Metaverse: Legal Realities for Indian Creators in 2026

Copyright in the Metaverse remains governed by the Copyright Act, 1957, but 2026 litigation has clarified that “User-Generated Content” (UGC) within virtual worlds requires explicit licensing. As seen in Zee Entertainment vs. ShareChat (Dec 2025), intermediaries are losing “Safe Harbor” protection if their in-built libraries allow users to synchronize copyrighted music or visuals without a valid license. For creators, this means “virtual assets” like digital skins and avatars must be registered as artistic works to prevent unauthorized replication in other metaverses.

DURRO IP’s Advice for Digital Creators

• Smart Contracts vs. IPR: Do not rely solely on NFTs; they are proof of ownership, not necessarily proof of copyright.
• Intermediary Liability: If you run a platform, your “Rights Management Tools” must now be proactive, not just reactive, to avoid permanent injunctions.