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Author	Dr Lahama Mazumdar
Organisation/Institution	St. Xavier's University Kolkata
Country	INDIA
Panel	Intellectual Property Rights
Title	COPYRIGHT & ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE: BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY FOR HEALTH INNOVATION IN ASIA
Abstract	The recent decision of the Delhi High Court banning shadow libraries Sci-hub and Libgen created a spotlight on the complex relationship between copyright law, digital access and the needs of the researcher community. While the publishers in this litigation argued that the ban protects intellectual property rights; researchers and civil society organizations contended that this threatens affordable access to scholarly materials, vital for inclusive growth, medical advancement and innovation. In an era where Asia is emerging as a hub of biomedical research and innovation, the accessibility gap in scholarly databases threatens to deepen inequalities in knowledge production and healthcare outcomes. India has a purpose based exemption policy, where it lists certain usages that are exempted from amounting to Copyright Infringement. Section 52 of the Indian Copyright Act permits Fair Dealing for research purposes, yet its limited scope often fails to address practical needs of medicinal researchers who depend on unrestricted access to global scientific data. Similar challenges persist across Asian Jurisdictions, where rigid licensing and high subscription costs hinder collaboration and open scientific exchange. This paper explores the potential of copyright law to facilitate equitable access to medicinal research within the context of Asia’s pursuit of sustainable development. Through a comparative study of jurisdictions such as India, Indonesia and Singapore and Japan it examines how legal reforms, flexible exceptions and open access policies can promote innovation and inclusivity. Drawing connections to Sustainable development goals - particularly SDG 3(Good Health and Well Being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 9 (Industry Innovation and Infrastructure) the paper argues that Asia’s creative future depends on adopting a sustainable copyright model which would encourage creativity while ensuring access to information. KEYWORDS: Copyright, Fair Dealing, Access to Knowledge, sustainable development, open access
Biography	I, Dr. Lahama Mazumdar am an Assistant Professor at Xavier Law School, St. Xavier’s University Kolkata, India. My research interest lies in the field of Intellectual Property and Technology Law. I hold a Ph.D. in Law from the National Law University, Odisha, where my doctoral dissertation critically examined the evolving contours of copyright law in the digital age, with particular emphasis on open science and equitable access to knowledge. I completed my B.Sc. LLB (Intellectual Property Rights Hons.) from KIIT Law School, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, and my LLM in Corporate and Commercial Laws from the National Law University, Odisha. My academic and professional journey has been driven by a deep interest in how law can balance innovation, creativity, and access in an increasingly digital and interconnected world. Through my teaching and research, I aim to contribute to the discourse on sustainable and inclusive knowledge systems that align with global development goals. My broader interests include the legal implications of emerging technologies, AI and authorship, and intellectual property reforms that support equitable access to knowledge and innovation. I continue to engage in research, conferences, and policy discussions to foster a more balanced intellectual property ecosystem that empowers creators while promoting public interest.