Section List

Act Number: 14

Act Name: The Copyright Act, 1957

Year: 1957

Enactment Date: 1957-06-04

Long Title: An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to copyright.

Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry

Department: Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade

Section NumberTitleActions
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.
6Certain disputes to be decided by Commercial Court.
7 Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period.
8 Domicile of Corporations.
9 Copyright Office.
10 Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights.
11Omitted.
12Omitted.
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, 2000.
16 No copyright except as provided in this Act.
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.
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 [Omitted.].
26 Term of copyright in cinematograph films.
27 Term of copyright in sound recording.
28 Term of copyright Government works.
28A Term of copyright in works of public undertakings.
29 Term of copyright in works of international organisations.
30 Licences by owners of copyright.
30A Application of sections 19.
31 Compulsory licence in works withheld from public.
31A Compulsory licence in unpublished or published works.
31B Compulsory licence for benefit of disabled.
31C Statutory licence for cover versions.
31D Statutory licence for broadcasting of literary and musical works and sound recording.
32 Licence to produce and publish translations.
32A Licence to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes.
32B Termination of licences issued under this Chapter.
33 Registration of copyright society.
33A Tariff Scheme by copyright societies.
34 Administration of rights of owner by copyright society.
34A [Omitted.].
35 Control over the copyright society by the author and other owners of rights.
36 Submission of returns and reports.
36A Rights and liabilities of performing rights societies.
37 Broadcast reproduction right.
38 Performer’s right.
38A Exclusive right of performers.
38B Moral rights of the performer.
39 Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer’s right.
39A Certain provisions to apply in case of broadcast reproduction right and performer’s.
40 Power to extend copyright to foreign works.
40A Power of Central Government to apply Chapter VIII to broadcasting organisations and performers in certain other countries.
41 Provisions as to works of certain international organisations.
42 Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India.
42A Power to restrict rights of foreign broadcasting organisations and performer’s.
43 Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament.
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.
50Rectification of Register by High Court.
50A Entries in the Register of Copyrights, etc., to be published.
51 When copyright infringed.
52 Certain acts not to be infringement of copyright.
52A Particulars to be included in records and video Films.
52B [Omitted.].
53 Importation of infringing copies.
53A Resale share right in original copies.
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 works 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.
63 Offences of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act.
63A Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions.
63B Knowing use of infringing copy of computer programme to be an offence.
64 Power of police to seize infringing copies.
65 Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies.
65A Protection of technological measures.
65B Protection of Rights Management Information.
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.
71 Appeals against certain orders of Magistrate.
72Appeals against orders of Registrar of Copyrights.
73 Procedure for appeals.
74Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to possess certain powers of civil courts
75Orders for payment of money passed by Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate 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 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions.
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