ACT NO. 14 OF 19571
[4th June, 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:-
CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY
1. Short title, extent and commencement
(1) This Act may be called the Copyright Act, 1957.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the
Official Gazette, appoint.
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 8 Domicile of Corporations
CHAPTER II COPYRIGHT OFFICE
Section 10 Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights
Section 11. [Appellate Board].--Omitted by the Tribunal Reforms Act, 2021 (33 of 2021), s. 10 (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).
Section 12. [Powers and procedure of Appellate Board]. Omitted by s. 10, ibid. (w.e.f. 4-4-2021).
CHAPTER III COPYRIGHT
Section 13 Works in which copyright subsists
Section 14 Meaning of copyright
Section 16 No copyright except as provided in this Act
CHAPTER IV OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHT AND THE RIGHTS OF THE OWNER
Section 17 First owner of copyright
Section 18 Assignment of copyright
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
CHAPTER V TERM OF COPYRIGHT
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
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
CHAPTER VI LICENCES
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Section 31A Compulsory licence in unpublished or published
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
CHAPTER VII COPYRIGHT SOCIETIES
Section 33 Registration of Copyright society
Section 33A Tariff Scheme by copyright societies
Section 34 Administration of rights of owner by copyright society
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
CHAPTER VIII RIGHTS OF BROADCASTING ORGANISATION AND OF PERFORMERS
Section 37 Broadcast reproduction right
Section 38A Exclusive right of performers
Section 38B Moral rights of the performer
Section 39 Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performers right
Section 39A Certain provisions to apply in case of broadcast reproduction right and performers
CHAPTER IX INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
Section 40 Power to extend copyright to foreign works
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 performers
Section 43 Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament
CHAPTER X REGISTRATION OF COPYRIGHT
Section 44 Register of Copyrights
Section 45 Entries in Register of Copyrights
Section 47 Form and inspection of register
Section 48 Register of Copyrights to be prima facie evidence of particulars entered therein
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
CHAPTER XI INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT
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 53 Importation of infringing copies
Section 53A Resale share right in original copies
CHAPTER XII CIVIL REMEDIES
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
CHAPTER XIII OFFENCES
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 68A Penalty for contravention of section 52A
Section 69 Offences by companies
Section 70 Cognizance of offences
CHAPTER XIV APPEALS
Section 71 Appeals against certain orders of Magistrate
Section 72 Appeals against orders of Registrar of Copyrights
Section 73 Procedure for appeals
CHAPTER XV MISCELLANEOUS
Section 74 Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to possess certain powers of civil courts
Section 76 Protection of action taken in good faith
Section 77 Certain persons to be public servants