Bare Acts

The Copyright Act, 1957

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

प्रतिलिप्‍यधिकार अधिनियम, 1957

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Act Details

Act Number:

Act Year:

1957

Location:

Enactment Date:

6/4/1957

Enforcement Date:

21-01-1958

Ministry:

Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Department:

Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Full List of Copyright Act Sections

PRELIMINARY

Section 1 to Section 8

Section 1

Short title, extent and commencement.

Section 2

Interpretation.

Section 3

Meaning of publication.

Section 4

When work not deemed to be published or performed in public.

Section 5

When work deemed to be first published in India.

Section 6

Certain disputes to be decided by Commercial Court.

Section 7

Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period.

Section 8

Domicile of Corporations.

COPYRIGHT OFFICE

Section 9 to Section 12

Section 9

Section 10

Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights.

Section 11

Omitted.

Section 12

Omitted.

COPYRIGHT

Section 13 to Section 16

Section 13

Works in which copyright subsists.

Section 14

Meaning of copyright.

Section 15

Special provision regarding copyright in designs registered or capable of being registered under the Designs Act, 2000.

Section 16

No copyright except as provided in this Act.

OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHT AND THE RIGHTS OF THE OWNER

Section 17 to Section 21

Section 17

First owner of copyright.

Section 18

Assignment of copyright.

Section 19

Mode of assignment.

Section 19A

Disputes with respect to assignment of copyright.

Section 20

Transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition.

Section 21

Right of author to relinquish copyright.

TERM OF COPYRIGHT

Section 22 to Section 29

Section 22

Term of copyright in published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works.

Section 23

Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works.

Section 24

Term of copyright in posthumous work.

Section 25

[Omitted.].

Section 26

Term of copyright in cinematograph films.

Section 27

Term of copyright in sound recording.

Section 28

Term of copyright Government works.

Section 28A

Term of copyright in works of public undertakings.

Section 29

Term of copyright in works of international organisations.

LICENCES

Section 30 to Section 32B

Section 30

Licences by owners of copyright.

Section 30A

Application of sections 19.

Section 31

Compulsory licence in works withheld from public.

Section 31A

Compulsory licence in unpublished or published works.

Section 31B

Compulsory licence for benefit of disabled.

Section 31C

Statutory licence for cover versions.

Section 31D

Statutory licence for broadcasting of literary and musical works and sound recording.

Section 32

Licence to produce and publish translations.

Section 32A

Licence to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes.

Section 32B

Termination of licences issued under this Chapter.

COPYRIGHT SOCIETIES

Section 33 to Section 36A

Section 33

Registration of copyright society.

Section 33A

Tariff Scheme by copyright societies.

Section 34

Administration of rights of owner by copyright society.

Section 34A

[Omitted.].

Section 35

Control over the copyright society by the author and other owners of rights.

Section 36

Submission of returns and reports.

Section 36A

Rights and liabilities of performing rights societies.

RIGHTS OF BROADCASTING ORGANISATION AND OF PERFORMERS

Section 37 to Section 39A

Section 37

Broadcast reproduction right.

Section 38

Performer?s right.

Section 38A

Exclusive right of performers.

Section 38B

Moral rights of the performer.

Section 39

Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer?s right.

Section 39A

Certain provisions to apply in case of broadcast reproduction right and performer?s.

INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT

Section 40 to Section 43

Section 40

Power to extend copyright to foreign works.

Section 40A

Power of Central Government to apply Chapter VIII to broadcasting organisations and performers in certain other countries.

Section 41

Provisions as to works of certain international organisations.

Section 42

Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India.

Section 42A

Power to restrict rights of foreign broadcasting organisations and performer?s.

Section 43

Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament.

REGISTRATION OF COPYRIGHT

Section 44 to Section 50A

Section 44

Section 45

Entries in Register of Copyrights.

Section 46

Indexes.

Section 47

Form and inspection of register.

Section 48

Section 49

Correction of entries in the Register of Copyrights.

Section 50

Rectification of Register by High Court.

Section 50A

Entries in the Register of Copyrights, etc., to be published.

INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT

Section 51 to Section 53A

Section 51

When copyright infringed.

Section 52

Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright.

Section 52A

Particulars to be included in records and video Films.

Section 52B

[Omitted.].

Section 53

Importation of infringing copies.

Section 53A

Resale share right in original copies.

CIVIL REMEDIES

Section 54 to Section 62

Section 54

Definition.

Section 55

Civil remedies for infringement of copyright.

Section 56

Protection of separate rights.

Section 57

Author?s special rights.

Section 58

Rights of owner against persons possessing or dealing with infringing copies.

Section 59

Restriction on remedies in the case of works of architecture.

Section 60

Remedy in the case of groundless threat of legal proceedings.

Section 61

Owner of copyright to be party to the proceeding.

Section 62

Jurisdiction of court over matters arising under this Chapter.

OFFENCES

Section 63 to Section 70

Section 63

Offences of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act.

Section 63A

Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions.

Section 63B

Knowing use of infringing copy of computer programme to be an offence.

Section 64

Power of police to seize infringing copies.

Section 65

Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies.

Section 65A

Protection of technological measures.

Section 65B

Protection of Rights Management Information.

Section 66

Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies.

Section 67

Penalty for making false entries in register, etc., for producing or tendering false entries.

Section 68

Penalty for making false statements for the purpose of deceiving or influencing any authority or officer.

Section 68A

Penalty for contravention of section 52A.

Section 69

Offences by companies.

Section 70

Cognizance of offences.

APPEALS

Section 71 to Section 73

Section 71

Appeals against certain orders of Magistrate.

Section 72

Appeals against orders of Registrar of Copyrights.

Section 73

Procedure for appeals.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 74 to Section 79

Section 74

Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to possess certain powers of civil courts

Section 75

Orders for payment of money passed by Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to be executable as a decree

Section 76

Protection of action taken in good faith.

Section 77

Certain persons to be public servants.

Section 78

Power to make rules.

Section 79

Repeals, savings and transitional provisions.