Copyright Act, 1957
17. First owner of copyright-
Subject to the provisions of this Act, the
author of a Work shall be the first owner of the copyright therein :
Provided that –
a. in the case of
a literary, dramatic or artistic work made by the author in the course of his
employment by the proprietor of a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical
under a contract of service or apprenticeship, for the purpose of publication
in newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, the said proprietor shall, in the
absence of any agreement to the contrary, be the first owner of the copyright
in the work in any newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, or to the
reproduction of the work for the purposes of its being so published, but in all
other respects the author shall be the first owner of the copyright in the work.
b. Subject to the
provisions of clause (a), in the case of a photograph taken, or a painting or
portrait drawn, or an engraving or a cinematograph film made, for valuable
consideration at the instance of any person, such person shall, in the absence
of any agreement to the contrary, be the first owner of the copyright therein.
c. In the case of
a work made in the course f the author’s employment under a contract of service
or apprenticeship, to which clause (a) or clause (b) does not apply, the employer
shall, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, be the first owner of
the copyright therein.
cc. [(Note: Ins. by
Act 23 of 1983, S.8 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) in the case of any address or speech
delivered in public, the person who has delivered such address or speech or if
such person has delivered such address or speech on behalf of any other person,
such other person shall be the first owner f the copyright therein
notwithstanding that the person who delivers such address or speech, or as the
case may be, the person on whose behalf such address or speech is delivered, is
employed by any other person who arranges such address or speech or on whose
behalf or premises such address or speech is delivered;]
a. In the case of a
Government work, Government shall, in the absence of any agreement to the
contrary, be the first owner of the copyright therein.
dd.[(Note: Ins. by
Act 23 of 1983, S.8 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) In the case of a work made or first
published by or under the direction or control of any public undertaking, such
public undertaking shall, in the absence of any agreement to the contrary, be
the first owner of the copyright therein.
Explanation – For the purposes of
this clause and Section 28-A, "public undertaking", means-
i. an undertaking
owned or controlled by Government, or
ii. a Government
Company as defined in Section 617 of the Companies Act, 1956 ( 1 of 1956) or,
iii. a body corporate
established by or under any Central, Provincial or State Act;]
e. in the case of
a work to which the provisions of Section 41 apply, the international
organization concerned shall be the first owner of the copyright therein.