Copyright Act, 1957

Contents
Sections	Particulars
Chapter I	Preliminary
1	Short title extent and commencement
2	Interpretation
3	Meaning of publication
4	When work not deemed to be published or performed in public
5	When work deemed to be first published in India
6	Certain disputes to be decided by copyright board
7	Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period
8	Domicile of corporations
Chapter II	Copyright Office And Copyright Board
9	Copyright Office
10	Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights
11	Copyright Board
12	Powers and procedure of Copyright Board
Chapter III	Copyright
13	Works in which copyright subsists
14	Meaning of copyright
15	Special provision regarding copyright in designs registered or capable of being registered under the designs act 1911
16	No copyright except as provided in this act
Chapter IV	Ownership of Copyright and the Rights of the Owner
17	First owner of copyright
18	Assignment of copyright
19	Mode of assignment
19A	Disputes with respect to assignment of copyright
20	Transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition
21	Right of author to relinquish copyright
Chapter V	Term of Copyright
22	Term of copyright in published literary dramatic musical and artistic works
23	Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works
24	Term of copyright in posthumous work
25	Term of copyright in photographs
26	Term of copyright in cinematograph films
27	Term of copyright in sound recording
28	Term of copyright in government work
28A	Term of copyright in works of public undertakings
29	Term of copyright in works of international organizations
Chapter VI	Licenses
30	Licenses by owners of copyright
30A	Application of sections 19 and 19a
31	Compulsory license in works withheld form public
31A	Compulsory license in unpublished Indian works
32	License to produce and publish translations
32A	License to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes
32B	Termination of licenses issued under this chapter
Chapter VII	Copyright Societies
33	Registration of copyright society
34	Administration of rights of owner by copyright society
34A	Payment of remunerations by copyright society
35	Control over the copyright society by the owner of rights
36	Submission of returns and reports
36A	Rights and liabilities of performing rights societies
Chapter VIII	Rights of Broadcasting Organization and of Performers
37	Broadcast reproduction right
38	Performer’s right
39	Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer's right
39A	Other provisions applying to broadcast reproduction right and performer's right
Chapter IX	International Copyright
40	Power to extend copyright to foreign works
41	Provisions as to works of certain international organizations
42	Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India
43	Orders under this chapter to be laid before parliament
Chapter X	Registration of Copyright
44	Register of copyrights
45	Entries in register of copyrights
46	Indexes
47	Form and inspection of register
48	Register of copyrights to be prima facie evidence of particulars entered therein
49	Correction of entries in the register of copyrights
50	Rectification of register by copyright board
50A	Entries in the register of copyrights etc. To be published
Chapter XI	Registration of Copyright
51	When copyright infringed, copyright in a work shall be deemed to be infringed
52	Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright
52A	Particulars to be included in sound recording and video films
52B	Accounts and audit
53	Importation of infringing copies
53A	Resale share right in original copies
Chapter XII	Civil Remedies
54	Definition
55	Civil remedies for infringement of copyright
56	Protection of separate rights
57	Author's special rights
58	Rights of owner against persons possessing or dealing with infringing copies
59	Restriction on remedies in the case of work of architecture
60	Remedy in the case of groundless threat of legal proceedings
61	Owner of copyright to be party to the proceeding
62	Jurisdiction of court over matters arising under this chapter
Chapter XIII	Offences
63	Offence of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this act
63A	Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions
64	Power of police to seize infringing copies
65	Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies
66	Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies
67	Penalty for making false entries in register etc. For producing or tendering false entries
68	Penalty for making false statements for the purpose of deceiving or influencing any authority or officer
68A	Penalty for contravention of section 52a
69	Offences by companies
70	Cognizance of offences
Chapter XIV	Appeals
71	Appeals against certain orders of magistrate
72	Appeals against orders of registrar of copyrights and copyright board
73	Procedure for appeals
74	Registrar of copyrights and copyright board to possess certain powers of civil courts
75	Orders for payments of money passed by registrar of copyrights and copyright board to be executable as a decree
76	Protection of action taken in good faith
77	Certain persons to be public servants
78	Power to make rules
79	Repeal saving and translation provisions
Rules
Chapter I	Preliminary
1	Short title, extent and commencement
2	Interpretations
Chapter II	The Copyright Board
3	Terms and conditions of office of the Chairman and members of the Copyright Board
4	Functions of the Secretary of the Copyright Board
Chapter III	Relinquishment of Copyright
5	Notice of relinquishment
Chapter IV	Licenses for Translations
6	Application for license
7	Notice of application
8	Consideration of the application
9	Manner of determining royalties
10	Extension of the period of license
11	Cancellation of license
Chapter IV-A	Compulsory License for Publication of Unpublished Works, Translation and Reproduction of Work
11A	Application for license
11B	Application for license-1
11C	Notice of application
11D	Manner of determining royalties
11E	Extension of the period of license
11F	Cancellation of license
11G	Notice for termination of license
Chapter V	Performing Rights Societies
12	Publication of statement of fees etc.
13	Determination of objections
14	Publication of alterations in the statements of fees etc.
Chapter VI	Registration of Copyright
15	Form of Register of Copyrights
16	Application for Registration of Copyright
17	Correction of entries in the Register of Copyrights
18	Indexes
19	Inspection of the Register of Copyrights and Indexes
20	Copies and extracts of the Register of Copyrights and Indexes
Chapter VII	Making of Records
21	Making of records
Chapter VIII	Importation of Infringing Copies
22	Importation of infringing copies
23	Procedure for examination of infringing copies
Chapter IX	Miscellaneous
24	Mode of making applications etc.
25	Mode of communication by the Copyright Board etc.
26	Fees
27	Right of audience
28	Costs
First Schedule
Form I	Notice of relinquishment of Copyright
Form II	Application for a license for translations
Form III	Form of Register of Copyrights
Form IV	Application for Registration of Copyright
Form V	Application for registration of changes in the particulars of copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights
Second Schedule	Schedule

[14 of 1957]

An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to copyright

Be it enacted by Parliament in the Eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-