Telangana: Bhadradri temple issues copyright notice against sale of presiding deities’ patented artwork

If traders and printers are found to be selling the patented artwork in their possession after June 20, 2025, legal action will be initiated against them as per Copyright Act, the notice warns

Kothagudem: Sri Seetha Ramachandra Swamy Devasthanam, Bhadrachalam authorities have issued a copyright notice cautioning traders against unauthorised sale of the patented pictures of the temple’s presiding deities.

The notice issued by Hyderabad-based copyrights consultants representing the temple said that the pictures of the deities with specific artwork have been published by the temple for the past two decades.

As the artwork of the presiding deities gained popularity among the devotees, the work has been protected by the Copyright Act and owned by the devasthanam. Only the temple could print/publish the artwork as the rightful owner of the artwork, the notice said.

However, some printers and traders are found to be printing and selling the artwork for financial gains while claiming them to be published by the temple. Thus, they violated the copyright pertaining to the temple.

The traders and printers who are violating the said copyright as well as those who are supporting them would be subjected to civil and criminal action. If the traders and printers are found to be selling the patented artwork in their possession after June 20, 2025, legal action would be initiated against them as per the Copyright Act, the notice warned.

The notice further suggested that if any of the traders or printers are willing to print and sell the said artwork of the deities, they have to obtain permission from the temple authorities.