Satyajit Ray's sketches and copyright controversies

A copyright row appears to have started between the Satyajit Ray Society and the Delhi Art Gallery, that is organising a countrywide exhibition, which is currently at Kolkata. A catalogue of the exhibition, named Satyajit Ray and Beyond which contains more than 200 images of Satyajit Ray's life and work is at the heart of this controversy. Most of the photographs are those that have been taken by the prominent photographer, Nemai Ghosh who is believed to have the largest collection of Ray photographs. The copyright dispute is not connected to Mr. Ghosh's photographs at all. The controversy revolves around 13 photographs in the catalogue- photographs of sketches of set designs and costumes that were done by Satyajit Ray himself and the copyright for which is vested with the Ray Estate, which is held jointly by Bijaya Ray and Sandip Ray, the widow and son of Satyajit Ray.

After this catalogue came to the knowledge of the Satyajit Ray Society in March, the Society CEO has written to the Delhi Art Gallery, protesting against this violation of the copyrights. As per the current position, written permission of the copyright holder is required for the publication of even the reproductions of the sketches. In such a scenario, the fact that the permission of the copyright holder was not sought by the Delhi Arts Gallery becomes prominent.

As a result of the protest raised by the Society, the Delhi Art Gallery has expressed interest to attribute credit to the Society and the Ray Estate. However, the Society insisted that those 13 photographs should be removed from the catalogue and the exhibition. Consequently, they have been removed from the exhibition. However, they remain in the catalogue as of now. Nemai Ghosh has however, stated that they would be removed from the catalogue also in future.