In a significant move to protect the rights of digital content creators and democratize access to govt media content, the Indian government has made the archives of Doordarshan, All India Radio (Akashvani), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB) freely or affordably accessible for creators to use across digital platforms.

The decision announced jointly by Prasar Bharati, Akashvani, and the PIB comes amid growing criticism of news agency ANI for allegedly misusing YouTube’s copyright strike mechanism to target content creators using short clips of ANI’s footage.

Govt Media Content: A Push for Openness

The government’s public media institutions have now officially encouraged the use of their content, comprising verified news reports, archival visuals, and multilingual audio-visual clips, across platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter). Akashvani announced that over 50 categories of content in at least 15 Indian languages would be available under this initiative.

Prasar Bharati has specifically promoted the availability of rare, historical footage from Doordarshan’s and AIR’s vaults, spanning decades of national milestones and cultural programming. This includes broadcast footage of Independence Day parades, landmark parliamentary addresses, and interviews with public figures from India’s post-Independence era.

Triggered by ANI’s Copyright Controversy

The timing is no coincidence. The move follows a heated backlash against ANI, which has come under fire for allegedly filing multiple copyright strikes on YouTube channels and individual creators even when clips used were brief, contextual, or for commentary. While ANI hasn’t publicly responded to the specific charges, the allegations have been widely reported by digital rights activists and creator communities.

A senior official from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told The Financial Express that this was “an effort to level the playing field” and ensure “publicly funded content benefits the public, not gatekeepers.”

The Rise of Platform Censorship Concerns

The incident has also reignited debates about copyright governance on digital platforms, particularly YouTube’s automated copyright strike system. Independent creators have long complained that news agencies exploit the system to suppress criticism or control distribution, even when their claims fall into murky legal ground.

“This is a welcome and overdue correction,” said Arjun Modak, a digital media lawyer. “Public broadcasters are funded by taxpayers and their content especially factual news or government announcements, should be fair game under fair use or public interest provisions.”

What’s Available for Creators?

According to Prasar Bharati and PIB:

• Content spans government schemes, public service announcements, speeches, documentaries, and events coverage.
• Usage is permitted on platforms including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and even commercial channels, with some conditions.
• Attribution guidelines will still apply, and monetization rules may vary based on content type and platform terms.

A new content gateway is being developed to streamline access, with metadata tags, licensing information, and download formats. For now, creators can access archives through Doordarshan and Akashvani’s official YouTube channels, or request access from the Prasar Bharati content team.

A Win for Digital India?

The move is being seen as a step forward for India’s content economy and the creator ecosystem. By unlocking public archives, the government is not only shielding creators from copyright harassment but also encouraging the use of credible, verified sources in a time of rampant misinformation.

While it remains to be seen whether other agencies like ANI will soften their approach, the message from public broadcasters is clear: content created for the public should serve the public.

“This move rewrites the rules of media access,” said journalist Vasundhra Tiwari. “It’s about reclaiming public narratives from gatekept archives and giving independent voices the space to shape India’s digital storytelling.”

Also Read: ANI Copyright Strikes Spark Extortion Allegations from YouTubers