As Indian academic libraries transition toward digital-first environments, Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals face increasing pressure to navigate complex copyright landscapes without sufficient legal preparation. This study investigates the phenomenon of copyright anxiety, a cognitive, emotional, and behavioral response to legal uncertainty among LIS professionals in Indian higher education institutions. Using an adapted version of the Copyright Anxiety Scale (CAS), data were collected from 160 respondents across diverse institutional settings. Results indicate that while copyright anxiety is prevalent, particularly among early-career professionals, demographic factors such as age, gender, and qualification do not significantly predict anxiety levels. Institutional copyright policies and support structures were often perceived as inadequate or unclear. A substantial section of respondents described duty evasion owing to legal obscurity, underlining a requirement for directed interventions. These difficulties are worsened by the Indian academic landscape, such as vague legal absolutions under Section 52 and an inadequate institutional copyright structure. Participants voiced for organized copyright training, simplified institutional guidelines, and access to legal knowledge. The study results underline the need for incorporating copyright education into LIS syllabi and institutional capacity-building programs to nurture ethical, confident, and legally learned information practices. © The Author(s) 2025