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In force

The Copyright Act, 1957

87 sections · As amended up to 2026-08

Sections

  1. 0Section 0
  2. VI — LICENCES
  3. 1The Explanation omitted by Act 27 of 2012, s. 16, (w.e.f. 21-6-2012)
  4. I — PRELIMINARY
  5. 221st January, 1958, vide notification No. 269, dated 21st January 1958, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, sec. 3
  6. 3Meaning of publication
  7. 4When work not deemed to be published or performed in public
  8. 5When work deemed to be first published in India
  9. 6Certain disputes to be decided by
  10. 7Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period
  11. 8Domicile of corporations
  12. II — COPYRIGHT OFFICE AND[2] [Appellate BOARD]
  13. 9Copyright Office
  14. 10Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights
  15. 12Powers and procedure of
  16. III — COPYRIGHT
  17. 13Works in which copyright subsists
  18. 14Meaning of copyright
  19. 15Special provision regarding Copyright in designs registered or Capable of being registered under the
  20. 16No copyright except as provided in this Act
  21. IV — OWNERSHIP OF COPYRIGHT AND THE RIGHTS OF THE OWNER
  22. 17First owner of copyright
  23. 18Assignment of copyright
  24. 19Mode of assignment
  25. 20Transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition
  26. 21Right of author to relinquish copyright
  27. V — TERM OF COPYRIGHT
  28. 22Term of copyright in published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
  29. 23Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works
  30. 24Term of copyright in posthumous work
  31. 26Term of copyright in cinematograph films
  32. 27Term of copyright in sound recording
  33. 28Term of copyright Government works
  34. 29Term of copyright in works of international organisations
  35. VI — LICENCES
  36. 30Licences by owners of copyright
  37. 31Compulsory licence in works withheld from public
  38. 31BCompulsory licence for benefit of disabled
  39. 31CStatutory licence for cover versions
  40. 31DStatutory licence for broadcasting of literary and musical works and sound recording
  41. 32Licence to produce and publish translations
  42. 32BTermination of licences issued under this Chapter
  43. 33Registration of Copyright society
  44. 33ATariff Scheme by copyright societies
  45. 34Administration of rights of owner by copyright society
  46. 34A[
  47. 35Control over the copyright society by the[2] [author and other owners of right]
  48. 36Submission of returns and reports
  49. 36ARights and liabilities of performing rights societies
  50. VIII — 3[RIGHTS OF BROADCASTING ORGANISATION AND OF PERFORMERS]
  51. 38AExclusive right of performers
  52. 38BMoral rights of the performer
  53. IX — INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
  54. 40Power to extend copyright to foreign works
  55. 40APower of Central Government to apply Chapter VIII to broadcasting organisations and performers in certain other countries
  56. 41Provisions as to works of certain international organisations
  57. 42Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India
  58. 42APower to restrict rights of foreign broadcasting organisations and performers
  59. 43Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament
  60. X — REGISTRATION OF COPYRIGHT
  61. 44Register of Copyrights
  62. 45Entries in register of Copyrights
  63. 46Indexes
  64. 47Form and inspection of register
  65. 48Register of Copyrights to be
  66. 49Correction of entries in the Register of Copyrights
  67. 50Rectification of Register by[1] [Appellate Board]
  68. XI — INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT
  69. 51When copyright infringed
  70. 52Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright
  71. 54Definition
  72. 55Civil remedies for infringement of copyright
  73. 56Protection of separate rights
  74. 57Author's special rights
  75. 58Rights of owner against persons possessing or dealing with infringing copies
  76. 59Restriction on remedies in the case of works of architecture
  77. 60Remedy in the case of groundless threat of legal proceedings
  78. 61Owner of copyright to be party to the proceeding
  79. 62Jurisdiction of court over matters arising under this Chapter
  80. XIII — OFFENCES
  81. 63Offences of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act
  82. 64Power of police to seize infringing copies
  83. 65Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies
  84. 65AProtection of technological measures
  85. 65BProtection of Rights Management Information
  86. 66Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies
  87. 67Penalty for making false entries in register, etc., for producing or tendering false entries
  88. 68[Penalty for making false statements for the purpose of deceiving or influencing any authority or of
  89. 69Offences by companies
  90. 70Cognizance of offences
  91. XIV — APPEALS
  92. 71Appeals against certain orders of Magistrate
  93. 72Appeals against orders of Registrar of Copyrights and[1]
  94. 73Procedure for appeals
  95. XV — MISCELLANEOUS
  96. 74Registrar of Copyrights and[1] [Appellate Board] to possess certain powers of civil courts
  97. 75Orders for payment of money passed by Registrar of Copyrights and[1] [Appellate Board] to be executa
  98. 76Protection of action taken in good faith
  99. 77Certain persons to be public servants
  100. 78Power to make rules
  101. 79Repeals, savings and transitional provisions