Copyright Act, 1957
23. Term of copyright in anonymous and
pseudonymous works –
(I) in the case of a literary, dramatic,
musical or artistic work (other than photograph), which is published
anonymously, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of
1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads:
"3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of
doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of
this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the
commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the
calendar year next following the years in which the work is fist published.
Provided that where the identity of the author
is disclosed before the expiry of the said period, copyright shall subsist
until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this
regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if
term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that
copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which
copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this
Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next
following the year in which the author dies.
(2) In sub section (1), references to the
author shall, in the case of an anonymous work of joint authorship, be
construed.-
a. where the identity
of one of the author is disclosed, as references to that author,
b. where the identity
of more author than one is disclosed, as reference to the author who dies last
from amongst such authors.
(3) In such section (1), references to the
author shall, in the case of a pseudonymous work of joint authorship, be
construed,-
a. where the names of
one or more (but not all) of the authors are pseudonymous and his or their
identity is not disclosed, as references to the author whose name is not a
pseudonym, or, if the names of two or more the authors are not pseudonymous, as
references to such of those authors who dies last,
b. where the
names of one or more ( but not all) of the authors are pseudonyms and the
identity of one or more of them is disclosed, as references to the author who
dies last from amongst the authors whose names are not pseudonymous and the
authors whose names are pseudonyms and disclosed, and
c. where the
names of all the authors are pseudonyms and the identity of one of them is
disclosed, as references to the authors whose identity is disclosed or if the
identity of two or more of such authors is disclosed, as references to such of
those authors who dies last.
Explanation- For the purposes of
this section, the identity of an author shall be deemed to have been disclosed,
if either the identity of the author is disclosed publicly by both the author
and the publisher or is otherwise established to the satisfaction of the
Copyright Board by that author.