Indian Copyright Act

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INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER I

Preliminary

[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:

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 date2 as the Central Government may, by notification in the

Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Interpretation. -In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

(a) "adaptation" means,-

(i) in relation to a dramatic work, the conversion of the work into a non-dramatic work;

(ii) in relation to a literary work or an artistic work, the conversion of the work into a dramatic work by

way of performance in public or otherwise;

(iii) in relation to a literary or dramatic work, any abridgement of the work or any version of the work in

which the story or action is conveyed wholly or mainly by means of pictures in a form suitable for

reproduction in a book, or in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical;3

(iv) in relation to a musical work, any arrangement or transcription of the work; 4 and

(v) 5 in relation to any work, any use of such work involving its re-arrangement or alteration;

(b) "work of architecture" means any building or structure having an artistic character or design, or

any model for such building or structure; 6

(i) a painting, a sculpture, a drawing (including a diagram, map, chart or plan), an engraving or a

photograph, whether or not any such work possesses artistic quality;

(ii) work of architecture;7 and

(iii) any other work of artistic craftsmanship;

(d) "author' means,-

(i) in relation to a literary or dramatic work, the author of the work;

(ii) in relation to a musical work, the composer;

(iii) in relation to an artistic work other than a photograph, the artist;

(iv) in relation to a photograph, the person taking the photograph;

(v) in relation to a cinematograph8 or sound recording the producer; and

(vi) in relation to 9 [any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work which is computer-generated, the

person who causes the work to be created;]

[(dd) 10 "broadcast" means communication to the public-

(i) by any means of wireless diffusion, whether in any one or more of the forms of signs, sounds or

visual images; or

(ii) by wire, and includes a re-broadcast;]

(e) "calendar year' means the year commencing on the 1st day of January;

(f) 11 "cinematograph film" means any work of visual recording on any medium produced through a

process from which a moving image may be produced by any means and includes a sound recording

accompanying such visual recording and "cinematograph" shall be construed as including any work

produced by any process analogous to cinematography including video films;

(ff) 12 "communication to the public" means making any work available for being seen or heard or

otherwise enjoyed by the public directly or by any means of display or diffusion other than by issuing

copies of such work regardless of whether any member of the public actually sees, hears or

otherwise enjoys the work so made available.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this clause, communication through satellite or cable or any other

means of simultaneous communication to more than one household or place of residence including

residential rooms of any hotel or hostel shall be deemed to be communication to the public;

(ffa) 13 "composer', in relation to a musical work, means the person who composes the music

regardless of whether he records it in any form of graphical notation;

(ffb) 14 "computer" includes any electronic or similar device having information processing

capabilities;

(ffc) 15 "computer programme" means a set of instructions expressed in words, codes, schemes or in

any other form, including a machine readable medium, capable of causing a computer to perform a

particular task or achieve a particular result;

(ffd) 16 "copyright society" means a society registered under sub-section (3) of section 33

(g) "delivery", in relation to a lecture, includes delivery by means of any mechanical instrument or

17[broadcast] by;

(h) "dramatic work" includes any piece for recitation, choreographic work or entertainment in dumb

show, the scenic arrangement or acting form of which is fixed in writing or otherwise but does not

include a cinematograph film;

[(hh) 18 "duplicating equipment" means any mechanical contrivance or device used or intended to be

used for making copies of any work;]

(i) "engravings" include etchings, lithographs, wood-cuts, prints and other similar works, not being

photographs;

(j) "exclusive licence" means a licence which confers on the licensee or on the licensee and persons

authorised by him, to the exclusion of all other persons (including the owner of the copyright), any

right comprised in the copyright in a work, and "exclusive licensee" shall be construed accordingly;

(k) "Government work" means a work which is made or published by or under the direction or control

of-

(i) the Government or any department of the Government;

(ii) any Legislature in India;

(iii) any court, tribunal or other judicial authority in India;

[(l) 19 "Indian work" means a literary, dramatic or musical work,-

(i) the author of which is a citizen of India; or

(ii) which is first published in India; or

(iii) the author of which, in the case of an unpublished work, is, at the time of the making of the work,

a citizen of India;]

(m) 20 "infringing copy" means,-

(i) in relation to a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, a reproduction thereof otherwise than in

the form of a cinematographic film;

(ii) in relation to a cinematographic film, a copy of the film made on any medium by any means;

(iii) in relation to a sound recording, any other recording embodying the same sound recording, made

by any means;

(iv) in relation to a programme or performance in which such a broadcast reproduction right or a

performer's right subsists under the provisions of this Act, the sound recording or a cinematographic

film of such programme or performance, if such reproduction, copy or sound recording is made or

imported in contravention of the provisions of this Act;

(n) "lecture" includes address, speech and sermon;

(o) 21 "literary work" includes computer programmes, tables and compilations including computer

35A "literary data bases ;

(p) 22 "musical work" means a work consisting of music and includes any graphical notation of such

work but does not include any words or any action intended to be sung, spoken or performed with the

music;

(q) 23 "performance", in relation to performer's right, means any visual or acoustic presentation made

live by one or more performers;

(qq) 24 "performer' includes an actor, singer, musician, dancer, acrobat, juggler, conjurer, snake

charmer, a person delivering a lecture or any other person who makes a performance;

25 *****

(s) "photograph" includes photo-lithograph and any work produced by any process analogous to

photography but does not include any part of a cinematograph film;

(t) "plate" includes any stereotype or other plate, stone, block, mould, matrix, transfer, negative, 26

[duplicating equipment] or other device used or intended to be used for printing or reproducing copies

of any work, and any matrix or other appliance by which 27 Sound recording for the acoustic

presentation of the work are or are intended to be made;

(u) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(uu) 28"producer', in relation to a cinematograph film or sound recording, means a person who takes

the initiative and responsibility for making the work;

29 *****

30 >*****

(x) 31 "reprography" means the making of copies of a work, by photo-copying or similar means;

(xx) 32 "sound recording" means a recording of sounds from which such sounds may be produced

regardless of the medium on which such recording is made or the method by which the sounds are

produced;

(y) "work" means any of the following works, namely:-

(i) a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work;

(ii) a cinematograph film;

(iii) a 33[sound recording];

(z) "work of joint authorship" means a work produced by the collaboration of two or more authors in

which the contribution of one author is not distinct from the contribution of the other author or authors;

(za) "work of sculpture" includes casts and models.

3. Meaning of publication. 34 For the purposes of this Act, "publication" means making a work

available to the public by issue of copies or by communicating the work to the public.

4. When work not deemed to be published or performed in public. - Except in relation to

infringement of copyright, a work shall not be deemed to be published or performed in public, if

published, or performed in public, without the licence of the owner of the copyright.

5. When work deemed to be first published in India. - For the purposes of this Act, a work

published in lndia shall be deemed to be first published in India, notwithstanding that it has been

published simultaneously in some other country, unless such other country provides a shorter term of

another country if the time between the publication in India and the publication in such other country

does not exceed thirty days or such other period as the Central Government may, in relation to any

specified country, determine.

6. Certain disputes to be decided by Copyright Board. 35 If any question arises,-

(a) whether a work has been published or as to the date on which a work was published for the

purposes of Chapter V, or

(b) whether the term of copyright for any work is shorter in any other country than that provided in

respect of that work under this Act, it shall be referred to the Copyright Board constituted under

section 11 whose decision thereon shall be final:

Provided that if in the opinion of the Copyright Board, the issue of copies or communication to the

public referred to in section 3 was of an insignificant nature it shall not be deemed to be publication

for the purposes of that section.

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

period. -Where, in the case of an unpublished work, the making of the work is extended over a

considerable period, the author of the work shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a

citizen of, or domiciled in, that country of which he was a citizen or wherein he was domiciled during

any substantial part of that period.

8. Domicile of corporations. - For the purposes of this Act, a body corporate shall be deemed to be

domiciled in India if it is incorporated under any law in force in India.

1. The Act has been extended to Goa, Daman and Diu by Reg. 12 of 1962, s. 3 and Sch.; to Dadra

and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. 1; to Pondicherry by Reg. 7 of 1963, S. 3 and

Sch. 1; and brought into force in the State of Sikkim (w.e.f. 27-4-1979): vide Notification No. S.O.

226(E), dated 27-4-1979, Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(ii), page 430

2. 21st January, 1968, vide Notification No. S.R.O. 269, dated 21-1-1958, Gazette of India,

Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, page 167

3. Certain words omitted by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

4. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

5. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

6. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2, for `architectural work of art'.

7. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2 for "architectural work of art',

8. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994. s. 2.

9. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

10. Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 3 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)

11. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2

12. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

13. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

14. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

15. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

16. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

17. Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 2, for "radio-diffusion" (w.9.f. 9-8-1984)

18. Subs. by Act 66 of 1984, s. 2 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)

19. Subs. by s. 3, ibid for cl. (1) (w.e.f. 9.8.1984).

20. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

21. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

22. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2

23. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2

24. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

25. Clause (r) omitted by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

26. Ins. by Act 68 of 1984, s. 2 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984).

27. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2 for "records'

28. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

29. Clause (v) omitted by Act 23 of 1983, s. 3 (w.e.f. 9.8.1984)

30. Clause (w) omitted by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

31. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

32. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2.

33. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2. for "record".

34. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 3.

35. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 6

[35A. . Subs. by Act 49 of 1999, Section 2, for databasis (wef 15.1.2000)]

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER II

9. Copyright Office. - (1) There shall be established for the purposes of this Act an office to be

called the Copyright Office.

(2) The Copyright Office shall be under the immediate control of the Registrar of Copyrights who

shall act under the superintendence and direction of the Central Government.

(3) There shall be a seal for the Copyright Office.

10. Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights . - (1) The Central Government shall appoint a

Registrar of Copyrights and may appoint one or more Deputy Registrars of Copyrights.

(2) A Deputy Registrar of Copyrights shall discharge under the superintendence and direction of the

Registrar of Copyrights such functions of the Registrar under this Act as the Registrar may, from time

to time, assign to him; and any reference in this Act to the Registrar of Copyrights shall include a

reference to a Deputy Registrar of Copyrights when so discharging any such functions.

11. Copyright Board. - (1) As soon as may be after the commencement of this Act, the Central

Government shall constitute a Board to be called the Copyright Board which shall consist of a

Chairman and not less than two or more than 36 [fourteen] other members.

(2) The Chairman and other members of the Copyright Board shall hold office for such period and on

such terms and conditions as may be prescribed.

(3) The Chairman of the Copyright Board shall be a person who is, or has been, a Judge 37 * * of a

High Court or is qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court.

(4) The Registrar of Copyrights shall be the Secretary of the Copyright Board and shall perform such

functions as may be prescribed.

12. Powers and procedure of Copyright Board. - (1) The Copyright Board shall, subject to any

rules that may be made under this Act, have power to regulate its own procedure, including the fixing

of places and times of its sittings:

Provided that the Copyright Board shall ordinarily hear any proceeding instituted before it under this

Act within the zone in which, at the time of the institution of the proceeding, the person instituting the

proceeding actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain.

Explanation.- In this sub-section "zone" means a zone specified in section 15 of the States

Reorganisation Act, 1956.

(2) The Copyright Board may exercise and discharge its powers and functions through Benches

constituted by the Chairman of the Copyright Board from amongst its members, each Bench

consisting of not less than three members.

38 "Provided that, if the Chairman is of opinion that any matter of importance is required to be heard

by a larger bench, he may refer the matter to a special bench consisting of five members.";

(3) If there is a difference of opinion among the members of the Copyright Board or any Bench

thereof in respect of any matter coming before it for decision under this Act, the opinion of the

majority shall prevail:

39 Provided that where there is no such majority, the opinion of the Chairman shall prevail.

(4) The 40 [Chairman] may authorise any of its members to exercise any of the powers conferred on it

by section 74 and any order made or act done in exercise of those powers by the member so

authorised shall be deemed to be the order or act, as the case may be, of the Board.

(5) No member of the Copyright Board shall take part in any proceedings before the Board in respect

of any matter in which he has a personal interest.

(6) No act done or proceeding taken by the Copyright Board under this Act shall be questioned on

the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of, the Board.

(7) The Copyright Board shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of 41 [sections 345 and

346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973], and all proceedings before the Board shall be deemed

to be judicial proceedings within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code.

36. Subs. By Act 38 of 1994, s. 11 for "eight".

37. Certain words omitted by Act 38 of 1994, s. 11

38. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12.

39. Subs. By Act 38 of 1994, s. 12.

40. Subs. By Act 38 of 1994, 5. 12, for `Copyright Board'

41. Subs. By Act 23 of 1983, s. 6, for certain words (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER III

13. Works in which copyright subsists.- (1) Subject to the provisions of this section and the other

provisions of this Act, copyright shall subsist throughout India in the following classes of works, that is

to say,-

(a) original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works;

(b) cinematograph films; and

(2) Copyright shall not subsist in any work specified in sub-section (1), other than a work to which the

provisions of section 40 or section 41 apply, unless,-

(i) in the case of a published work, the work is first published in India, or where the work is first

published outside India, the author is at the date of such publication, or in a case where the author

was dead at that date, was at the time of his death, a citizen of India;

(ii) in the case of an unpublished work other than a 43 [work of architecture] the author is at the date

of the making of the work a citizen of India or domiciled in India; and

(iii) in the case of 44 [work of architecture] the work is located in India.

Explanation.- in the case of a work of joint authorship, the conditions conferring copyright specified in

this sub-section shall be satisfied by all the authors of the work.

(3) Copyright shall not subsist-

(a) in any cinematograph film a substantial part of the film is an infringement of the copyright in any

other work;

(b) in any 45 [sound recording] made in respect of a literary, dramatic or musical work, if in making the

46 [sound recording], copyright in such work has been infringed.

(4) The copyright in a cinematograph film or a 47 [sound recording] shall not affect the separate

be, the 48 [sound recording] is made.

(5) In the case of a 49 [work of architecture] copyright shall subsist only in the artistic character and

design and shall not extent to processes or methods of construction.

14.50 Meaning of copyright.-For the purposes of this Act, "copyright" means the exclusive right

subject to the provisions of this Act, to do or authorise the doing of any of the following acts in respect

of a work or any substantial part thereof, namely:-

(a) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work, not being a computer programme, -

(i) to reproduce the work in any material form including the storing of it in any medium by electronic

means;

(ii) to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation;

(iii) to perform the work in public, or communicate it to the public;

(iv) to make any cinematograph film or sound recording in respect of the work;

(v) to make any translation of the work;

(vi) to make any adaptation of the work;

(vii) to do, in relation to a translation or an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation

to the work in sub-clauses (i) to (vi);

(b) in the case of a computer programme,-

(i) to do any of the acts specified in clause (a);

51A "(ii) to sell or give on commercial rental or offer for sale or for commercial rental any copy of the

computer programme:

Provided that such commercial rental does not apply in respect of computer programmes where

the programme itself is not the essential object of the rental."

(i) to reproduce the work in any material form including depiction in three dimensions of a two

dimensional work or in two dimensions of a three dimensional work;

(ii) to communicate the work to the public;

(iii) to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation;

(iv) to include the work in any cinematograph film;

(v) to make any adaptation of the work;

(vi) to do in relation to an adaptation of the work any of the acts specified in relation to the work in

sub-clauses (i) to (iv);

(d) In the case of cinematograph film, -

(i) to make a copy of the film, including a photograph of any image forming part thereof;

(ii) to sell or give on hire, or offer for sale or hire, any copy of the film, regardless of whether such

copy has been sold or given on hire on earlier occasions;

(iii) to communicate the film to the public;

(e) In the case of sound recording, -

(i) to make any other sound recording embodying it;

(ii) to sell or give on hire, or offer for sale or hire, any copy of the sound recording regardless of

whether such copy has been sold or given on hire on earlier occasions;

(iii) to communicate the sound recording to the public.

Explanation : For the purposes of this section, a copy which has been sold once shall be deemed to

be a copy already in circulation.

15. Special provision regarding copyright in designs registered or capable of being registered

under the Designs Act,1911.-(1) Copyright shall not subsist under this Act in any design which is

registered under the 51*** Designs Act, 1911.

(2) Copyright in any design, which is capable of being registered under the Designs Act, 1911, but

which has not been so registered, shall cease as soon as any article to which the design has been

applied has been reproduced more than fifty times by an industrial process by the owner of the

16. No copyright except as provided in this Act.-No person shall be entitled to copyright or any

similar right in any work, whether published or unpublished, otherwise than under and in accordance

with the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force, but nothing in this section

shall be constructed as abrogating any right or jurisdiction to restrain a breach of trust or confidence.

42. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for "records"

43. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for `architecture work of arr'.

44. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for "an architectural woek of art'.

45. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for 'record'.

46. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for 'rerord'.

47. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for `record'.

48. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12, for "record'.

49. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2, for "architecture work act'.

50. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 14.

51. The words "Indian Patents and" omitted by Act 23 of 1983, s.7(w.e.f. 9-8-1984)

[51A. Subs by Act 49 of 1999, Section 3, for sub clause (ii) (wef 15.1.2000)]

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER IV

Ownership of Copyright and the Rights of the Owner

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 a 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 so far as the copyright relates to the publication of the work in

any newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, or to the reproduction of the work for the purpose 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;

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) 52 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 of 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;]

(d) 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) 53 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 28A, "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; 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 organisation

concerned shall be the first owner of the copyright therein.

18. Assignment of copyright. -(1) The owner of the copyright in an existing work or the prospective

owner of the copyright in a future work may assign to any person the copyright either wholly or

partially and either generally or subject to limitations and either for the whole term of the copyright or

any part thereof:

Provided that in the case of the assignment of copyright in any future work, the assignment shall take

effect only when the work comes into existence.

(2) Where the assignee of a copyright becomes entitled to any right comprised in the copyright, the

assignee as respects the rights so assigned, and the assignor as respects the rights not assigned,

shall be treated for the purposes of this Act as the owner of copyright and the provisions of this Act

shall have effect accordingly.

(3) In this section, the expression "assignee" as respects the assignment of the copyright in any

future work includes the legal representatives of the assignee, if the assignee dies before the work

comes into existence.

19.Mode of assignment.- [(1)]54 No assignment of the copyright in any work shall be valid unless it

is in writing signed by the assignor or by his duly authorised agent.

(2) 55 The assignment of copyright in any work shall identify such work, and shall specify the rights

assigned and the duration and territorial extent of such assignment.

(3) 56 The assignment of copyright in any work shall also specify the amount of royalty payable, if any,

to the author or his legal heirs during the currency of the assignment and the assignment shall be

subject to revision, extension or termination on terms mutually agreed upon by the parties.

(4)57 Where the assignee does not exercise the rights assigned to him under any of the other subsections

of this section within a period of one year from the date of assignment, the assignment in

respect of such rights shall be deemed to have lapsed after the expiry of the said period unless

otherwise specified in the assignment.

(5) 58 If the period of assignment is not stated, it shall be deemed to be five years from the date of

assignment.

(6) 59 If the territorial extent of assignment of the rights is not specified, it shall be presumed to extend

within India.

(7) 60 Nothing in sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) or sub-section (5) or sub-section

(6) shall be applicable to assignments made before the coming into force of the Copyright

(Amendment) Act, 1994.

19A61 Disputes with respect to assignment of copyright.-(1) If an assignee fails to make sufficient

exercise of the rights assigned to him, and such failure is not attributable to any act or omission of the

assignor, then, the Copyright Board may, on receipt of a complaint from the assignor and after

holding such inquiry as it may deem necessary, revoke such assignment.

(2) If any dispute arises with respect to the assignment of any copyright the Copyright Board may, on

receipt of a complaint from the aggrieved party and after holding such inquiry as it considers

necessary, pass such order as it may deem fit including an order for the recovery of any royalty

payable:

Provided that the Copyright Board shall not pass any order under this sub-section to revoke the

assignment unless it is satisfied that the terms of assignment are harsh to the assignor in case the

assignor is also the author :

Provided further that no order of revocation of assignment under this sub-section, be made within a

period of five years from the date of such assignment.

20. Transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition.-Where under a

bequest a person is entitled to the manuscript of a literary, dramatic or musical work, or to an artistic

work, and the work was not published before the death of the testator, the bequest shall, unless the

contrary intention is indicated in the testator's will or any codicil thereto, be construed as including the

death.

Explanation.- In this section, the expression "manuscript" means the original document embodying

the work, whether written by hand or not.

21. Right of author to relinquish copyright.-(1) The author of a work may relinquish all or any of

the rights comprised in the copyright in the work by giving notice in the prescribed form to the

Registrar of Copyrights and thereupon such rights shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (3),

cease to exist from the date of the notice.

(2) On receipt of a notice under sub-section (1), the Registrar of Copyrights shall cause it to be

published in the Official Gazette and in such other manner as he may deem fit.

(3) The relinquishment of all or any of the rights comprised in the copyright in a work shall not affect

any rights subsisting in favour of any person on the date of the notice referred to in sub-section (1).

52. Ins. by s. 8, ibid. (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)

53. Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 8 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)

54. S. 19 re-numbered as sub-section (1) thereof by s. 9, ibid., (W.G.f. 9-8-1984)

55. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19.)

56. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19)

57. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19)

58. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19.)

59. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s, 19.)

60. (Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19.)

61. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 19

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER V

Term of Copyright

22. Term of copyright in published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works.-Except as

otherwise hereinafter provided, copyright shall subsist in any literary, dramatic, musical or artistic

work (other than a photograph) published within the lifetime of the author until 62[sixty] years from the

beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the author dies.

Explanation.- In this section the reference to the author shall, in the case of a work of joint authorship,

be construed as a reference to the author who dies last.

23. Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works.-(1) In the case of a literary,

dramatic, musical or artistic work (other than a photograph), which is published anonymously or

pseudonymously, copyright shall subsist until 63[sixty] years from the beginning of the calendar year

next following the year in which the work is first published :

Provided that where the identity of the author is disclosed before the expiry of the said period,

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 authors is disclosed, as references to that author;

(b) where the identity of more authors than one is disclosed, as references to the author who dies last

from amongst such authors.

(3) In sub-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 of the authors are not pseudonyms, 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 pseudonyms and the authors whose names are pseudonyms and are

disclosed; and

as references to the author 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 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.

24. Term of copyright in the posthumous work.-(1) In the case of a literary, dramatic or musical

work or an engraving, in which copyright subsists at the date of the death of the author or, in the case

of any such work of joint authorship, at or immediately before the date of the death of the author who

dies last, but which, or any adaptation of which, has not been published before that date, copyright

shall subsist until 65[sixty] years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in

which the work is first published or, where an adaptation of the work is published in any earlier year,

from the beginning of the calendar year next following that year.

(2) For the purposes of this section a literary, dramatic or musical work or an adaptation of any such

work shall be deemed to have been published, if it has been performed in public or if any records

made in respect of the work have been sold to the public or have been offered for sale to the public.

25. Term of copyright in photographs.-In the case of a photograph, copyright shall subsist until

66[sixty] years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the photograph

is published.

26. Term of copyright in cinematograph films.-In the case of a cinematograph film, copyright shall

subsist until 67[sixty] years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which

the film is published.

27. Term of copyright in records.-In the case of a 68[sound recording], copyright shall subsist until

69[sixtyl years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the 70 [sound

recording] is published.

28. Term of copyright in Government work.- In the case of Government work, where Government

is the first owner of the copyright therein, copyright shall subsist until 71[Sixty] years from the

beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the work is first published.

72[28A. Term of copyright in works of public undertakings.- In the case of a work, where a public

undertaking is the first owner of the copyright therein, copyright shall until 73[sixty] years from the

beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the work is first published.

29. Term of copyright in works of international organisations.- In the case of a work of an

international organisation to which the provisions of section 41 apply, copyright shall subsist until

74[sixty] years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the work is first

published.

62. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for'fifty'.

63. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for'fifty".

64. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for `fifty".

65. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, S. 2 for `fifty'

66. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for'fifty'.

67. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for `fifty'.

68. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2 for "record".

69. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, 2 for `fifty'.

70. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2 for "record"

71. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for "fiW"

72. Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 11 (w.e.f. 9-8-1994)

73. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2 for "lifty"

74. Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. for "fifty"

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER VI

LICENCES

30.Licences by owners of copyright.- The owner of the copyright in any existing work or the

prospective owner of the copyright in any future work may grant any interest in the right by licence in

writing signed by him or by his duly authorised agent:

Provided that in the case of a licence relating to copyright in any future work, the licence shall take

effect only when the work comes into existence.

Explanation.- Where a person to whom a licence relating to copyright in any future work is granted

under this section dies before the work comes into existence, his legal representatives shall, in the

absence of any provision to the contrary in the licence, be entitled to the benefit of the licence.

75 30A. Application of sections 19and 19A.-The provisions of sections 19 and 19A shall, with any

necessary adaptations and modifications, apply in relation to a licence under section 30 as they

apply in relation to assignment of copyright in a work.

31. Compulsory licence in works withheld from public.-(1) If at any time during the term of

to the Copyright Board that the owner of copyright in the work- (a) has refused to republish or allow

the republication of the work or has refused to allow the performance in public of the work, and by

reason of such refusal the work is withheld from the public; or

(b) has refused to allow communication to the public by 76[broadcast], of such work or in the case of

77[sound recording] the work recorded in such [sound recording], on terms which the complainant

considers reasonable; the Copyright Board, after giving to the owner of the copyright in the work a

reasonable opportunity of being heard and after holding such inquiry as it may deem necessary,

may, if it is satisfied that the grounds for such refusal are not reasonable, direct the Registrar of

Copyrights to grant to the complainant a licence to republish the work, perform the work in public or

communicate the work to the public by [broadcast], as the case may be, subject to payment to the

owner of the copyright of such compensation and subject to such other terms and conditions as the

the complainant in accordance with the directions of the Copyright Board, on payment of such fee as

may be prescribed.

Explanation.- In this sub-section, the expression "Indian work' includes-

(i) an artistic work, the author of which is a citizen of India; and

(ii) a cinematograph film or a record made or manufactured in India.

(2) Where two or more persons have made a complaint under sub-section (1), the licence shall be

granted to the complainant who in the opinion of the Copyright Board would best serve the interests

of the general public.

31A.Compulsory licence in unpublished Indian works.-(1) Where, in the case of an Indian work

referred to in sub-clause (iii) of clause (a) of section 2, the author is dead or unknown or cannot be

traced, or the owner of the copyright in such work cannot be found, any person may apply to the

(2) Before making an application under sub-section (1), the applicant shall publish his proposal in

one issue of a daily newspaper in the English language having circulation in the major part of the

country and where the application is for the publication of a translation in any language, also in one

issue of any daily newspaper in that language.

(3) Every such application shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and shall be

accompanied with a copy of the advertisement issued under sub-section (2) and such fee as may be

prescribed.

(4) Where an application is made to the Copyright Board under this section, it may, after holding

such inquiry as may be prescribed, direct the Registrar of Copyrights to grant to the applicant a

licence to publish the work or a translation thereof in the language mentioned in the application

subject to the payment of such royalty and subject to such other terms and conditions as the

the applicant in accordance with the direction of the Copyright Board.

(5) Where a licence is granted under this section, the Registrar of Copyrights may, by order, direct

the applicant to deposit the amount of the royalty determined by the Copyright Board in the public

account of India or in any other account specified by the Copyright Board so as to enable the owner

of the copyright or, as the case may be, his heirs, executors or the legal representatives to claim

such royalty at any time.

(6) Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this section, in the case of a work referred to in

sub-section (1), if the original author is dead, the Central Government may, if it considers that the

publication of the work is desirable in the national interest, require the heirs, executors or legal

representatives of the author to publish such work within such period as may be specified by it.

(7) Where any work is not published within the period specified by the Central Government under

sub-section (6), the Copyright Board may, on an application made by any person for permission to

publish the work and after hearing the parties concerned, permit such publication on payment of

such royalty as the Copyright Board may, in the circumstances of such case, determine in the

prescribed manner.]

32.Licence to produce and publish translations.- (1) Any person may apply to the Copyright

Board for a licence to produce and publish a translation of a literary or dramatic work in any

language 2[after a period of seven years from the first publication of the work].

(1A)80 Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), any person may apply to the Copyright

Board for a licence to produce and publish a translation, in printed or analogous forms of

reproduction, of a literary or dramatic work, other than an Indian work, in any language in general

use in India after a period of three years from the publication of such work, if such translation is

required for the purposes of teaching, scholarship or research:

Provided that where such translation is in a language not in general use in any developed country,

such application may be made after a period of one year from such publications.]

(2) Every 81[application under this section] shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and

shall state the proposed retail price of a copy of the translation of the work.

(3) Every applicant for a licence under this section shall, along with his application, deposit with the

Registrar of Copyrights such fee as may be prescribed.

(4) Where an application is made to the Copyright Board under this section, it may, after holding

such inquiry as may be prescribed, grant to the applicant a licence, not being an exclusive licence, to

produce and publish a translation of the work in the language mentioned in 82[the application-

(i) subject to the condition that the applicant shall pay to the owner of the copyright in the work

royalties in respect of copies of the translation of the work sold to the public, calculated at such rate

as the Copyright Board may, in the circumstances of each case, determine in the prescribed

manner; and

(ii) where such licence is granted on an application under sub-section (1A), subject also to the

condition that the licence shall not extend to the export of copies of the translation of the work

outside India and every copy of such translation shall contain a notice in the language of such

translation that the copy is available for distribution only in India:

Provided that nothing in clause (ii) shall apply to the export by Government or any authority under

the Government of copies of such translation in a language other than English, French or Spanish to

any country if-

(1) such copies are sent to citizens of India residing outside India or to any association of such

citizens outside India; or

(2) such copies are meant to be used for purposes of teaching, scholarship or research and not for

any commercial purpose; and

(3) in either case, the permission for such export has been given by the Government of that country]

83[Provided further that no licence under this section] shall be granted, unless-

(a) a translation of the work in the language mentioned in the application has not been published by

the owner of the copyright in the work or any person authorised by him, 82[within seven years or

three years or one year, as the case may be, of the first publication of the work], or if a translation

has been so published, it has been out of print;

(b) the applicant has proved to the satisfaction of the Copyright Board that he had requested and

had been denied authorisation by the owner of the copyright to produce and publish such translation,

or that 84[he was, after due diligence on his part, unable to find] the owner of the copyright;

request for 85[such authorisation by registered air mail post to the publisher whose name appears

from the work, and in the case of an application for a licence under sub-section (1)], not less than

two months before 85[such application];

[(cc)84 a period of six months in the case of an application under sub-section (1A) (not being an

application under the proviso thereto), or nine months in the case of an application under the proviso

to that sub-section, has elapsed from the date of making the request under clause (b) of this proviso,

or where a copy of the request has been sent under clause (c) of this proviso, from the date of

sending of such copy, and the translation of the work in the language mentioned in the application

has not been published by the owner of the copyright in the work or any person authorised by him

within the said period of six months or nine months, as the case may be;

(ccc) in the case of any application made under sub-section (1A),-

(i) the name of the author and the title of the particular edition of the work proposed to be translated

are printed on all the copies of the translation;

(ii) if the work is composed mainly of illustrations, the provisions of section 32A are also complied

with;]

(d) the Copyright Board is satisfied that the applicant is competent to produce and publish a correct

translation of the work and possesses the means to pay to the owner of the copyright the royalties

payable to him under this section;

(e) the author has not withdrawn from circulation copies of the work; and

(f) an opportunity of being heard is given, wherever practicable, to the owner of the copyright in the

work.

[(5)84 Any broadcasting authority may apply to the Copyright Board for a licence to produce and

publish the translation of-

(a) a work referred to in sub-section (1A) and published in printed or analogous forms of

reproduction; or

(b) any text incorporated in audio-visual fixations prepared had published solely for the purpose of

systematic instructional activities, for broadcasting such translation for the purposes of teaching or

for the dissemination of the results of specialised, technical or scientific research to the experts in

any particular field.

(6) The provisions of sub-sections (2) to (4) in so far as they are relatable to an application under

sub-section (1A), shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to the grant of a licence under subsection

(5) and such licence shall not also be granted unless-

(a) the translation is made from a work lawfully acquired;

(b) the broadcast is made through the medium of sound and visual recordings;

by the applicant or by any other broadcasting agency; and

(d) the translation and the broadcasting of such translation are not used for any commercial

purposes.Explanation.- For the purposes of this section,-

(a) "developed country" means a country which is not a developing country;

(b) "developing country" means a country which is for the time being regarded as such in conformity

with the practice of the General Assembly of the United Nations;

by bodies corporate (not being bodies corporate owned or controlled by Government) or other

associations or body of persons for commercial purposes;

(d) "purposes of teaching, research or scholarship" includes-

(i) purposes of instructional activity at all levels in educational institutions, including Schools,

Colleges, Universities and tutorial institutions; and

(ii) purposes of all other types of organised educational activity.]

[32A.Licence to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes.-86(1) Where, after the

expiration of the relevant period from the date of the first publication of an edition of a literary,

scientific or artistic work,-

(a) the copies of such edition are not made available in India; or

(b) such copies have not been put on sale in India for a period of six months to the general public, or

in connection with systematic instructional activities at a price reasonably related to that normally

charged in India for comparable works by the owner of the right of reproduction or by any person

authorised by him in this behalf, any person may apply to the Copyright Board for a licence to

reproduce and publish such work in printed or analogous forms of reproduction at the price at which

such edition is sold or a lower price for the purposes of systematic instructional activities.

(2) Every such application shall be made in such form as may be prescribed and shall state the

proposed retail price of a copy of the work to be reproduced.

(3) Every applicant for a licence under this section shall, along with his application, deposit with the

Registrar of Copyrights such fee as may be prescribed.

(4) Where an application is made to the Copyright Board under this section, it may, after holding

such inquiry as may be prescribed, grant to the applicant a licence, not being an exclusive licence, to

produce and publish a reproduction of the work mentioned in the application subject to the

conditions that,-

(i) the applicant shall pay to the owner of the copyright in the work royalties in respect of copies of

the reproduction of the work sold to the public, calculated at such rate as the Copyright Board may,

in the circumstances of each case, determine in the prescribed manner;

(ii) a licence granted under this section shall not extend to the export of copies of the reproduction of

the work outside India and every copy of such reproduction shall contain a notice that the copy is

available for distribution only in lndia :

Provided that no such licence shall be granted unless-

(a) the applicant has proved to the satisfaction of the Copyright Board that he had requested and

had been denied authorisation by the owner of the copyright in the work to reproduce and publish

such work or that he was, after due diligence on his part, unable to find such owner;

(b) where the applicant was unable to find the owner of the copyright, he had sent a copy of his

request for such authorisation by registered airmail post to the publisher whose name appears from

the work not less than three months before the application for the licence;

accurate reproduction of the work and possesses the means to pay to the owner of the copyright the

royalties payable to him under this section;

(d) the applicant undertakes to reproduce and publish the work at such price as may be fixed by the

the same standard on the same or similar subjects;

(e) a period of six months in the case of application for the reproduction and publication of any work

of natural science, physical science, mathematics or technology, or a period of three months in the

case of an application for the reproduction and publication of any other work, has elapsed from the

date of making the request under clause (a), or where a copy of the request has been sent under

clause (b), from the date of sending of a copy, and a reproduction of the work has not been

published by the owner of the copyright in the work or any person authorised by him within the said

period of six months or, three months, as the case may be;

(f) the name of the author and the title of the particular edition of the work proposed to be

reproduced are printed on all the copies of the reproduction;

(g) the author has not withdrawn from circulation copies of the work; and

(h) an opportunity of being heard is given, wherever practicable, to the owner of the copyright in the

work.

(5) No licence to reproduce and publish the translation of a work shall be granted under this section

unless such translation has been published by the owner of the right of translation or any person

authorised by him and the translation is not in a language in general use in India.

(6) The provisions of this section shall also apply to the reproduction and publication, or translation

into a language in general use in India, of any text incorporated in audio-visual fixations prepared

and published solely for the purpose of systematic instructional activities.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this section, "relevant period", in relation to any work, means a

period of-

(a) seven years from the date of the first publication of that work, where the application is for the

reproduction and publication of any work of, or relating to, fiction, poetry, drama, music or art;

(b) three years from the date of the first publication of that work, where the application is for the

reproduction and publication of any work of, or relating to, natural science, physical science,

mathematics or technology; and

32B. Termination of licences issued under this chapter.-(1) If, at any time after the granting of a

licence to produce and publish the translation of a work in any language under sub-section (1A) of

section 32 (hereafter in this sub-section referred to as the licensed work), the owner of the copyright

in the work or any person authorised by him publishes a translation of such work in the same

language and which is substantially the same in content at a price reasonably related to the price

normally charged in India for the translation of works of the same standard on the same or similar

subject, the licence so granted shall be terminated:

Provided that no such termination shall take effect until after the expiry of a period of three months

from the date of service of a notice in the prescribed manner on the person holding such licence by

the owner of the right of translation intimating the publication of the translation as aforesaid:

Provided further that copies of the licensed work produced and published by the person holding such

licence before the termination of the licence takes effect may continue to be sold or distributed until

the copies already produced and published are exhausted.

(2) If, at any time after the granting of a licence to produce and publish the reproduction or

translation of any work under section 32A, the owner of the right of reproduction or any person

authorised by him sells or distributes copies of such work or a translation thereof, as the case may

be, in the same language and which is substantially the same in content at a price reasonably

related to the price normally charged in India for work of the same standard on the same or similar

subject, the licence so granted shall be terminated:

Provided that no such termination shall take effect until after the expiry of a period of three months

from the date of service of a notice in the prescribed manner on the person holding the licence by

the owner of the right of reproduction intimating the sale or distribution of the copies of the editions of

work as aforesaid:

Provided further that any copies already reproduced by the licensee before such termination takes

effect may continue to be sold or distributed until the copies already produced are exhausted.]

75. Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 30. )

76. Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 2 for "radio-diffusion" (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)

77. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2 for "record"

78. Lins. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 12 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

79. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 12 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

80. Ins. by S. 13, ibid. (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

81. Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, for "such application" (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

82. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for certain words (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

83. Subs. by s. 13, ibid., for "Provided that no such licence" (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

84. Ins. by s.13, ibid (w.e.f. 9-8-94).

85. Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 13 for certain words (w.e.f. 9-8-94).

86. Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 14 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984).

INDIAN COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

CHAPTER VII

33. 1 Registration of Copyright Society.- (1) No person or association of persons shall, after

coming into force of the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1994 commence or, carry on the business of

issuing or granting licences in respect

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