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The Copyright Act, 1957

Central

An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to copyright.

Act number
14 of 1957
Ministry
Ministry of Commerce and Industry
Department
Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
Enacted
4 Jun 1957

Source: IndiaCode Portal, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice, Government of India. Open on India Code Check against the official text before relying on it.

105 sections

  1. Section 1Short title, extent and commencement.
  2. Section 2Interpretation.
  3. Section 3Meaning of publication.
  4. Section 4When work not deemed to be published or performed in public.
  5. Section 5When work deemed to be first published in India.
  6. Section 6Certain disputes to be decided by Commercial Court.
  7. Section 7Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period.
  8. Section 8Domicile of Corporations.
  9. Section 9Copyright Office.
  10. Section 10Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights.
  11. Section 11Omitted.
  12. Section 12Omitted.
  13. Section 13Works in which copyright subsists.
  14. Section 14Meaning of copyright.
  15. Section 15Special provision regarding copyright in designs registered or capable of being registered under the Designs Act, 2000.
  16. Section 16No copyright except as provided in this Act.
  17. Section 17First owner of copyright.
  18. Section 18Assignment of copyright.
  19. Section 19Mode of assignment.
  20. Section 19ADisputes with respect to assignment of copyright.
  21. Section 20Transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition.
  22. Section 21Right of author to relinquish copyright.
  23. Section 22Term of copyright in published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works.
  24. Section 23Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works.
  25. Section 24Term of copyright in posthumous work.
  26. Section 25[Omitted.].
  27. Section 26Term of copyright in cinematograph films.
  28. Section 27Term of copyright in sound recording.
  29. Section 28Term of copyright Government works.
  30. Section 28ATerm of copyright in works of public undertakings.
  31. Section 29Term of copyright in works of international organisations.
  32. Section 30Licences by owners of copyright.
  33. Section 30AApplication of sections 19.
  34. Section 31Compulsory licence in works withheld from public.
  35. Section 31ACompulsory licence in unpublished or published works.
  36. Section 31BCompulsory licence for benefit of disabled.
  37. Section 31CStatutory licence for cover versions.
  38. Section 31DStatutory licence for broadcasting of literary and musical works and sound recording.
  39. Section 32Licence to produce and publish translations.
  40. Section 32ALicence to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes.
  41. Section 32BTermination of licences issued under this Chapter.
  42. Section 33Registration of copyright society.
  43. Section 33ATariff Scheme by copyright societies.
  44. Section 34Administration of rights of owner by copyright society.
  45. Section 34A[Omitted.].
  46. Section 35Control over the copyright society by the author and other owners of right.
  47. Section 36Submission of returns and reports.
  48. Section 36ARights and liabilities of performing rights societies.
  49. Section 37Broadcast reproduction right.
  50. Section 38Performer’s right.
  51. Section 38AExclusive right of performers.
  52. Section 38BMoral rights of the performer.
  53. Section 39Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer’s right.
  54. Section 39ACertain provisions to apply in case of broadcast reproduction right and performer’s rights.
  55. Section 40Power to extend copyright to foreign works.
  56. Section 40APower of Central Government to apply Chapter VIII to broadcasting organisations and performers in certain other countries.
  57. Section 41Provisions as to works of certain international organisations.
  58. Section 42Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India.
  59. Section 42APower to restrict rights of foreign broadcasting organisations and performer’s.
  60. Section 43Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament.
  61. Section 44Register of Copyrights.
  62. Section 45Entries in Register of Copyrights.
  63. Section 46Indexes.
  64. Section 47Form and inspection of register.
  65. Section 48Register of Copyrights to be prima facie evidence of particulars entered therein.
  66. Section 49Correction of entries in the Register of Copyrights.
  67. Section 50Rectification of Register by High Court.
  68. Section 50AEntries in the Register of Copyrights, etc., to be published.
  69. Section 51When copyright infringed.
  70. Section 52Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright.
  71. Section 52AParticulars to be included in sound recording and video Films.
  72. Section 52B[Omitted.].
  73. Section 53Importation of infringing copies.
  74. Section 53AResale share right in original copies.
  75. Section 54Definition.
  76. Section 55Civil remedies for infringement of copyright.
  77. Section 56Protection of separate rights.
  78. Section 57Author’s special rights.
  79. Section 58Rights of owner against persons possessing or dealing with infringing copies.
  80. Section 59Restriction on remedies in the case of works of architecture.
  81. Section 60Remedy in the case of groundless threat of legal proceedings.
  82. Section 61Owner of copyright to be party to the proceeding.
  83. Section 62Jurisdiction of court over matters arising under this Chapter.
  84. Section 63Offences of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act.
  85. Section 63AEnhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions.
  86. Section 63BKnowing use of infringing copy of computer programme to be an offence.
  87. Section 64Power of police to seize infringing copies.
  88. Section 65Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies.
  89. Section 65AProtection of technological measures.
  90. Section 65BProtection of Rights Management Information.
  91. Section 66Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies.
  92. Section 67Omitted.
  93. Section 68Omitted.
  94. Section 68APenalty for contravention of section 52A.
  95. Section 69Offences by companies.
  96. Section 70Cognizance of offences.
  97. Section 71Appeals against certain orders of Magistrate.
  98. Section 72Appeals against orders of Registrar of Copyrights.
  99. Section 73Procedure for appeals.
  100. Section 74Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to possess certain powers of civil courts
  101. Section 75Orders for payment of money passed by Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to be executable as a decree
  102. Section 76Protection of action taken in good faith.
  103. Section 77Certain persons to be public servants.
  104. Section 78Power to make rules.
  105. Section 79Repeals, savings and transitional provisions.