Copyright Act, 1957

(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.

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; (iv) in relation to a musical work any arrangement or transcription of the work; and (v) 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; (c) "artistic work" means - (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) an architectural work of art; 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 cinematograph film or sound recording the producer; and (vi) in relation to any literary dramatic musical or artistic work which is computer-generated the person who causes the work to be created; (dd) "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) "cinematograph firm" 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) "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) "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) "computer" includes any electronic or similar device having information processing capabilities; (ffc) "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) "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 by broadcast; (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) "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 license" means a license which confers on the licensee or on the licensee and persons authorized 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) "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) "infringing copy" means - (i) in relation to 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 of sound recording is made or imported in contravention of the provisions of this Act. (n) "lecture" includes address speech and sermon; (o) "literary work" includes computer programmes tables and compilations including computer data basis; (p) "musical work" means a work consisting of music and includes any graphical notation of such work but does not include any works or any action intended to be sung spoken or performed with the music; (q) "performance" in relation to performer's right means any visual or acoustic presentation made live by one or more performers; (qq) "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; (r) [Omitted by Copyright (Amendment) Act 1994.] (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 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 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) "producer" in relation to a cinematograph film or sound recording means a person who takes the initiative and responsibility for making the work; (v) [Omitted by Act 23 of 1983] (w) [Omitted by Act 38 of 1994] (x) "reprography" means the making of copies of a work by photocopying or similar means; (xx) "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 record; (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.

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.

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 license of the owner of the copyright.

For purposes of this Act a work published in India 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 copyright for such work; and a work shall be deemed to be published simultaneously 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

a date to be notified) Certain disputes to be decide by Copyright Board- If any question arises,- a. hether a work has been published or as to the date on which a work was published for    the purposes of Chapter V, or b. hether the term of copyright for any work is shorter in any other country than the 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.]

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.

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) There shall be established for the purposes of this Act on 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 seal for the Copyright Office.

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 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.

(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 nor more than [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.5 (w.e.f. a date to be notified). 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 of (Note: Word "the Supreme Court or " omitted by Act 38 of 1994, S.5 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) a High Court or is qualified for appointment as a Judge of a High Court. (4) The Chairman of the Copyright shall be the Secretary of the Copyright Board and shall perform such functions as may be prescribed.

(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 time of its sittings: Provided that the Copyright Board shall ordinarily hear and 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 1 5 of the States Reorganization Act, 1956 (37 of 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. [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.6 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) 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. [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.6 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) Provided that where there is no such majority, the opinion of the Chairman shall prevail.] (4) The [Chairman(Note: Subs. for "Copyright Board" by Act 38 of 1994, S.6 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) ] may authorize 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 members so authorized 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 [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.6 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) Sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 ( 2 of 1974),] 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, 1860 (45 of 1860).

(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 c.[(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) for "records" sound recordings.] (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 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 [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") work of architecture], the author is at the date of making of the work a citizen of India or domiciled in India , and iii. in the case of a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") ] 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 if a substantial part of the film is an infringement of the copyright in any other work, b. in any [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") ] sound recording made in respect of a literary, dramatic or musical work, it in making the [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") ] sound recording, copyright in such work has been infringed. (4) The copyright in a cinematograph film or a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") ] sound recording shall not affect the separate copyright in any work in respect of which a substantial part of which, the film, or as the case may be, the [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (w.e.f. for "records") ] sound recording is made. (5) In the case of a work or architecture, copyright shall subsist only in the artistic character and design and shall not extend to processes or methods or construction. NOTES "Original" Meaning – The word 'original' does not in this connection mean that the work must be the expression or original or inventive though, Copyright Acts are not concerned with the origin of ideas, but with the expression of though; and in the case of 'literary work' with the expression of thought in print or writing. The originality which is required relates to the expression of the thought; but the Act does not require that the expression must be in an original or novel form, but that the work must not be copied from another work - that it should originate from the author. In order to obtain copyright production for literary, domestic, musical and artistic works, the subject dealt with need not be original , nor the ideas expressed be something novel. What is required is the expenditure of original skill or labor in execution and not originality of thought. No original thought or original research is required in order that a literary work may be deemed to be original. The standard of originality which is required is a low one. In modern complex society provisions have to be made for protecting every man's copyright, whether high or small, whether involving a high degree of originality as in a new poem or picture, or only originality at the vanishing point as in a law report. Copyright in abridgement – Strictly speaking, an abridgement of an author's work means a statement designed to be complete and accurate of the thoughts, opinions, and ideas by him expressed therein, but set forth much more concisely in the compressed language of the abridger. Selections – Where the plaintiff's selection of poems was borrowed by the defendants, it was held that defendants book had infringed the copyright of the plaintiff. The true principle in all these cases is, that the defendant is not at liberty to use or avail himself of the labor which the plaintiff has been at for the purpose of producing his work, that is, in fact, merely to take away the result of another man's labor, or, in other words, his property. Reports of judgments – It is generally true that in the reports of judgments the reporter has no copyright, but is cannot be said that in the selection of cases and in the arrangement of the reporting the reporter has not the protection of law. The defendant is entitled to report such judgments as he obtains by expenditure of his time, labor and money but where he fails to exert his own energies, he cannot be allowed to avail himself of other people's industry. "Whilst all are entitled to resort to common sources of information none are entitled to save themselves trouble and expense by availing themselves for their own profit of other men's works, subject to copyright and entitled to protection." Question papers – In a Patna case it has been held that question papers set at examination are original literary works though the paper-setter may have copied questions from textbooks. Persons who set the question papers are authors of the work and they are the first owners of the copyright therein.

a date to be notified) Meaning of copyright- For the purposes of this Act, "copyright" means the exclusive right subject to the provisions of this Act, to do or authorize 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- c. to do any of the acts specified in clause (a) i.to sell or give on hire, or offer for sale or hire, any copy of the computer programme, regardless of whether such copy has been sold or given on hire on earlier occasions d. in the case of an artistic work,- e. 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, i. to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation ii. to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation iii. to include the work in any cinematograph film, iv. to make any adaptation of the work v. 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) f. in the case of a cinematograph film- g. To make a copy of the film, including a photograph of any image forming part thereof. i. 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. ii. To communicate the film to the public h. in the case of a sound recording- i. to make any other sound recording embodying it, i. 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, ii. 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.]

designs registered or capable of being registered under the (Note: Words "Indian Patents and" omitted by Act 23 of 1983, S.7 (w.e.f.9-8-1984) Designs Act, 1911.- (1) Copyright shall not subsist under this Act in any design which is registered under the (Note: Words "Indian Patents and" omitted by Act 23 of 1983, S.7 (w.e.f.9-8-1984) Designs Act, 1911 ( 2 of 1911). (2) Copyright in any design, which is capable of being registered under the (Note: Words "Indian Patents and" omitted by Act 23 of 1983, S.7 (w.e.f.9-8-1984) Designs Act, 1911 ( 2 of 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 copyright or, with his license, by any other person.

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 of any other law for the time being in force, but nothing in this section shall be construed as abrogating any right or jurisdiction to restrain a breach of trust or confidence.

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 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 any newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, or to the reproduction of the work for the purposes 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. c. In the case of a work made in the course f the author’s employment under a contract of service 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. [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.8 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) 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 f 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;] a. 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.[(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.8 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) 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 28-A, "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 ( 1 of 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 organization concerned shall be the first owner of the copyright therein.

(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) Whereas the assignee of a copyright becomes entitled to any right comprised in the copyright, the assignee as respects the rights to 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.

[(Note: S.19 renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof by Act 23 of 1983, S.9 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) (1)] No assignment of the copyright in any work shall be valid unless it is in writing signed by the assignor or his duly authorized agent. (2) [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.8 (w.e.f. a date to be notified) The assignment of copyright in nay work shall identify such work, and shall specify the rights assigned and the duration and territorial extent of such assignment. (3) 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) Where the assignee does not exercise the rights assigned to him under any of the other sub sections 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) If the period of assignment is not stated, it shall be deemed to be five years from the date of assignment. (6) If the territorial extent of assignment of the rights is not specified, it shall be presumed to extend within India. (7) 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.]

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 copyright in the work in so far as the testator was the owner of the copyright immediately before his death. Explanation- In this section, the expression "manuscript" means the original document embodying the work, whether written by hand or not.

(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 provision 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 favor of any person on the date of the notice referred to in sub section. (1).

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 [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following year in which the author dies. Explanation – In this section the reference to the author shall, in the case of a wok of joint authorship, be construed as a reference to the author who dies last.

pseudonymous works – (I) in the case of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (other than photograph), which is published anonymously, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the years in which the work is fist published. Provided that where the identity of the author is disclosed before the expiry of the said period, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the 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 author is disclosed, as references to that author, b. where the identity of more author than one is disclosed, as reference to the author who dies last from amongst such authors. (3) In such 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 the authors are not pseudonymous, 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 pseudonymous and the authors whose names are pseudonyms and disclosed, and c. where the names of all the authors are pseudonyms and the identity of one of them is disclosed, as references to the authors 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 the 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.

(1) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work or an engraving, in which copyright subsist 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 [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") 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 f 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 [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2(xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified) sound recordings] made in respect of the work have been sold to the public or have been offered for sale to the public.

In the case of a photograph, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the photograph is published.

in the case of a cinematograph film, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year which the film is published.

Act 38 of 1994, S.2(xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recordings] – In the case of a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording], copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2(xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording] is published.

in the case of government work where government is the first owner of the copyright therein copyright shall subsist until sixty years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the work is first published.

international organization- In the case of a work of an international organization to which the provision of Section 41 apply, copyright shall subsist until [(Note: Subs. by Act No.13 of 1992, S.2, w.e.f. 28-12-1991. In this regard S.3 of Act No.13 of 1992 reads: "3. Copyright not to subsist if term has expired - For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act.") sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the work is first published.

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 license in writing signed by him or by his duly authorized agent. Provided that in the case of a license relating to copyright in any future work, the license shall take effect only when the work comes into existence. Explanation – When a person to whom a license 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 license , be entitled to benefit of the license.

public- (1) If at any time during the term of copyright in any Indian work which has been published or performed in public, a complaint is made 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 with held from the public, or behest refused to allow communication to the public by [(Note: Subs. for "radio-diffusion" by Act 23 of 1983, S.2 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) broadcast] of such work or in the case of a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording] the work recorded in such [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording,] on terms which the complainant considers reasonable; The Copyright Board, after giving to the owner of the copyright in the work reasonably opportunity of being heard and after holding such inquiry, as it may deemed 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 license to republish the work, perform the work in public or communicate the work to the public by [(Note: Subs. for "radio-diffusion" by Act 23 of 1983, S.2 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) 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 Copyright Board may determine, and thereupon the Registrar of Copyrights shall grant the license of the complainant in accordance with the direction of the Copyright Board, on payment of such fees, 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 [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording] made or manufactured in India. (2) Where two or more persons have made a complaint under sub section (1), the license shall be granted to the complainant who in the opinion of the Copyright Board would best serve the interests of the general public.

translations - (1) Any person may apply the Copyright Board for a license to produce and publish a translation of a literary or dramatic work in nay language [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) after a period of seven years from the first publication of the work]. (1-A) [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub section (1), any person may apply to the Copyright Board for a license 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 is general use in India after a period of three years from the first publication of such works, 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 publication.] (2) Every [(Note: Subs. for "such application" by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) 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 license under this section shall, along with the application, deposit with the registrar of Copyrights such fees as may be prescribed. (4) Where an application is made to the Copyright Board under this section, may, after holding such inquiry as may be prescribed, grant to the applicant a license not being an exclusive license, to produce and publish a translation of the work in the language mentioned in [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) the application- 1. 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 translations 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 1. Where such license is granted on an application under sub section (1-A), subject also to the condition that the license shall not extend to the export of copies of the translation of the work outside India and every copy 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 a clause (ii) shall apply to the export by Government or nay authority under the Government of copies of such translation in a language other than the 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.] [(Note: Subs. for "Provided that no such license" by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) Provided further that no license 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 o the copyright in the work or nay person authorized by him, [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) within seven years or three years or one year, as the case may be, of the fist 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 authorization by the owner of the copyright to produce and publish such translation, or that [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) he was, after due diligence on his part, unable to find] the owner of the copyright. c. Where the applicant was unable to find the owner of the copyright, he had sent a copy of his request for [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) such authorization by registered airmail post to the publisher whose name appears from the work, and in the case of an application for a license under sub section (1)] not less than two months before [(Note: Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) such application]. a. [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) a period of six months in the case of an application under Section (1-A) ( not being an application under the proviso thereto), or nine months in the case of an application under the priviso 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 authorized 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 (1-A),- 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 provision of Section 32-A are also complied with. a. the Copyright Board is satisfied that the applicant is competent to produce and publish a correct translation of the work and posses the means to pay to the owner of the copyright the royalties payable to him under this section. b.The author has not withdrawn from circulation copies of the work, and c. An opportunity of being heard is given, wherever practicable, to the owner of the copyright in the work. (5) [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.13 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) Any broad casting authority may apply to the Copyright Board for a license to produce and publish the translation of- a. A work referred to in sub section (1-A) and published in printed or analogous forms of reproduction, or b. Any text incorporated in audio visual fixations prepared and published solely for the purposes of systematic instructional activities. For broadcasting such translation for the purposes of teaching for the dissemination of the results of specialized, 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 (1-A) shall, with the necessary modifications, apply to the grant of a license under sub section (5), and such license 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, c. Such recording has been lawfully and exclusively made for the purpose of broadcasting in India by the applicant or by 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 United Nations; c. "purposes of research" does not include purposes of industrial research, or purposes of research by bodies corporate (not being bodies corporate owned or controlled by Government) or other association or body persons for commercial purposes; d. "purposes of teaching, research or scholarship, includes- a. purposes of instructional activity at all levels in education institutions, including Schools, Colleges, Universities and tutorial institutions, and b. (ii) purposes of all other types of organized educational activity.]

(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 licenses in respect of any work in which copyright subsists or in respect of any other rights conferred by this Act except under or in accordance with the registration granted under sub section (3): Provided that an owner of copyright shall, in this individual capacity, continue to have the right to grant licenses in respect of his own works consistent with his obligations as a member of the registered copyright society. Provided further that a performing rights society functioning in accordance with the provisions of Section 33 on the date immediately before the coming into force of the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1994 shall be deemed to be a copyright society for the purposes of this Chapter and every such society shall get itself registered within a period one year from the date of commencement of the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1994. (2) Any association of persons which fulfils such conditions as may be prescribed may apply for permission to do the business specified in sub section (1) to the Registrar of Copyrights who shall submit the application to the Central Government. (3) The Central Government may, having regard to the interest of the authors and other owner of rights under this Act, the interest and convenience of the public and in particular of the groups of persons who are most likely to seek licenses in applicants, register such association of persons as a copyright society to such conditions as may be prescribed. Provided that the Central Government shall not ordinarily register more than one copyright society to do business in respect of the same class of works. (4) The Central Government may, if it is satisfied that a copyright society is being managed in a manner detrimental to the interest of the owners of rights concerned, cancel the registration of such society after such inquiry as may be prescribed. (5) If the Central Government is of the opinion that in the interest of the owners of rights concerned, it is necessary so to do, it may, by order, suspend the registration of such society pending inquiry for such period not exceeding one year as may be specified in such order under sub section (4) and that Government shall appoint and administrator to discharge the functions of the copyright society.

copyright society- (1) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed,- (a), a copyright society may accept from an owner of rights exclusive authorization to administer any right in any work by issue of licenses or collection of license fees or both, and (b) an owner of rights shall have the right to withdraw such authorization without prejudice to the rights of the copyright society under any contract. (2) It shall be competent for a copyright society to enter into agreement with any foreign society or organization administering rights corresponding to rights under this Act, to entrust to such foreign society or organization the administration in any foreign country of rights administered by the said copyright society in India, or for administering in India the rights administered in a foreign society or organization the administration in any foreign country of rights administered by the said copyright society in India, or for administering in India the rights administered in a foreign country by such foreign society or organization. Provided that no such society or organization shall permit any discrimination in regard to the terms of license or the distribution of fees collected between rights in Indian and other works. (3) Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, a copyright society may- i.(i) Issue licenses under Section 30 in respect of any rights under this Act, (ii) Collect fees in pursuance of such licenses, (iii) Distribute such fees among owners of rights after making deductions for its own expenses, ii.(iv) Perform any other functions consistent with the provisions of Section 35.

owner of rights – (1) Every copyright society shall be subject to the collective control of the owners of rights under this Act whose rights it administers (not being owners of rights under this Act administered by a foreign society or organization referred to in sub section (2) of Section 34 and shall, in such manner as may be prescribed,- a. obtain the approval of such owners of rights for its procedure of collection and distribution of fees. b. Obtain their approval for the utilization of any amounts collected as fees for any purposes other than distribution to the owner of rights, and c. Provide to such owners regular, full and detailed information concerning all its activities, in relation to the administration of their rights. (2) All fees distributed among the owners of rights shall, as far as may be, be distributed in proportion to the actual use of their works.

(1) Every copyright society shall submit to the Registrar if Copyright such returns as may be prescribed. (2) Any officer duly authorized by the Central Government in this behalf may call for any report and also call for any record of any copyright society for the purpose of satisfying himself that the fees collected by the society in respect of rights administered by it are being utilized or distributed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

(w.e.f. a date to be notified)) Broadcast reproduction right – (1) Every broadcasting organization shall have a special right to the know as ‘broadcast reproduction right" in respect of its broadcasts. (2) The broadcast reproduction right shall subsist until twenty five years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the broadcast in made. (3) During the continuance of a broadcast reproduction right in relation to an broadcast, any person who, without the license of the owner of the right does nay of the following acts of the broadcast or any substantial part thereof,- a. rebroadcasts the broadcast, or b. causes the broadcasts to be heard or seen by the public on payment of any charges, or c. makes any sound recording or visual recording of the broadcast, or d. makes any reproduction of such sound recording or visual recording where such initial recording was done without license or, where it was license, for any purposes not envisaged by such license, or e. sells or heirs to the public, or offers for such sale or hire, any such sound recording or visual recording referred to in clause (C) or clause (d), shall, subject to the provisions of Section 39, be deemed to have infringed broadcast reproduction right.

(1) Where any performer appears or engages in any performance, he shall have a special right to be known as the "performer’s right" in relation to such performance. (2) The performer’s right shall subsist until twenty-five years from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the performance is made. (3) During the continuance of performer’s right in relation to any performance, any person who, without the consent of the performer, does any of the following acts in respect of the performance or any substantial part thereof, namely;- a. makes a sound recording or visual recording of the performance, or b. reproduces a sound recording or visual recording of the performance, which sound recording or visual recording was- a. made without the performer’s consent, or i. made for purposes different from those for which the performer gave his consent, or ii. made for purposes different from those referred to in Section 39 from a sound recording or visual recording which was made in accordance with Section 39, or 1. broadcasts the performance except where the broadcast is made from a sound recording or visual recording other than one made in accordance with Section 39, or is a rebroadcast by the same broadcasting organization of an earlier broadcast which did not infringe the performer’s right, or 2. communicates the performance to the public otherwise than by broadcast, except where such communication to the public is made from a sound recording or visual recording or a broadcast. Shall, subject to the provisions of section 39, be deemed to have infringed the performer’s right. (4) Once a performer has consented to the incorporation of his performance in a cinematograph film, the provision of sub sections (1), (2) and (3) shall have no further application to such performance.]

Act 38 of 1994, S.15 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer’s right- No broadcast reproduction right or performer’s right shall be deemed to be infringed by- a. the making of any sound recording or visual recording for the private use of the person making such recording, or solely for purposes of bona fide teaching or research, or b. the use, consistent with fair dealing, of excepts of a performance or of a broadcast in the reporting of current events or for bona fide review, teaching or research, or c. such other acts, with any necessary adaptations and modifications, which do not constitute infringement of copyright under Section 52.

The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, direct that all or any provisions of this Act, shall apply. a. to work first published in any territory outside India to which the order related in like manner as if they were first published within India, b. to unpublished works, or any class thereof, the authors whereof were at the time of the making of the work, subjects or citizens of a foreign country to which the order relates, in like manner as if the authors were citizens of India. c. In respect of domicile in any territory outside India to which the order relates in like manner as if such domicile were in India d. To any work of which the author was at the date of the first publication thereof, or, in case where the author was dead at the date, was at the time of his death, a subject or citizens of foreign country to which the order relates in like manner as if the author was a citizen of India at that date or time. And thereupon, subject to the provisions of this Chapter and of the order, this Act shall apply accordingly. Provided that – i. Before making an order under this section in respect of any foreign country (other than a country with which India has entered into a treaty or which is a party to a convention relating to copying to which India is also a party, the Central Government shall be satisfied that foreign country has made, or has undertaken to make, such provision, if any, as it appears to the Central Government expedient to require for the protection in that country of works entitled to copyright under the provisions of this Act, ii. The order may provide that the provisions of this Act shall apply either generally or in relation to such classes of works or such classes of case may be specified in the order. iii. the order may provide that the term of copyright in India shall not exceed that conferred by the law of the country to which the order relates: iv. The order may provide that the enjoyment of the rights conferred by this Act shall be subject to the accomplishment of such conditions and formalities, if any, as may be prescribed by the order, v. In applying the provisions of this Act as to ownership of copyright, the order may make such exceptions and modifications as appear necessary, having regard to the law of the foreign country. vi. The order may provide that this Act or any part thereof shall not apply to works made before the commencement of the order or that this Act or any part thereof shall not apply to works first published before the commencement of the order.

international organizations- 1. Where- a. any work is made or first published by or under the direction or control of any organization to which the section applies, and b. there would, apart from this section, be no copyright in the work in India at the time of the making or, as the case may be, of the first publication thereof, and c. either- i. The work is published as aforesaid in pursuance of an agreement in that behalf with the author, being an agreement which does not reserve to the author the copyright, if any, in the work, or ii. Under Section 17 any copyright in the work would belong to the organization. There shall, by virtue of this section, be copyright in the work throughout India. (2) Any organization to which this section applies which at the material time had not the legal capacity of a body corporate shall have and be deemed at all material times to have had the legal capacity of a body corporate for the purposes of holding, dealing with, and enforcing copyright and in connection with all legal proceeding relating to copyright. (3) The organization to which this section applies are such organization as the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, declare to be organization of which one or more sovereign powers or the Government or Governments thereof are members to which it is expedient that this section shall apply.

authors first published in India – If it appears to the Central Government that a foreign country does not give or has not undertaken to give adequate protection to the works of Indian authors, the Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, direct that such of the provisions of this Act as confer copyright on works first published after the date specified in the order, the authors whereof are subjects or citizens of such foreign country and are not domiciled in India, and thereupon those provisions shall not apply to such works.

before Parliament - Every order made by the Central Government under this Chapter shall, as soon as may be after it is made, be laid before both Houses of Parliament and shall be subject to such modifications as Parliament may make during the session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following.

There shall be kept at the Copyright Office a register in the prescribed form to be called the Register of Copyrights in which may be entered the names or titles of works and the names and address of authors, publishers and owners of copyright and such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(1) The author or published of, or the owner of or other person interested in the copyright in, any work may make an application in the prescribed form accompanied by the prescribed fee to the Registrar of Copyrights for entering particulars of the work in the Register of Copyrights. [(Note: Added by Act 23 of 1983, S.16 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984) Provided that in respect of an artistic work which in used or is capable of being used in relation to any goods, the application shall include a statement to that effect and shall be accompanied by a certificate from the Registrar of Trade Marks referred to in Section 4 of the Trade and Merchandise Marks Act, 1958 (43 of 1958), to the effect that no trade mark identical with or deceptively similar to such artistic work has been registered under than Act in the name of, or that no application has been made under that Act for such registration by, any person other than the applicant.] (2) On receipt of an applicant in respect of any work under sub section (1), the Registrar of Copyrights may, after holding any such inquiry as he may deem fit, enter the particulars of the work in the Register of Copyrights.

There shall be also kept at the Copyright Office such indexes of the Register of Copyrights, as may be prescribed.

The register of Copyrights and indexes thereof kept under this Act shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection, and any person shall be entitled to take copies of, or make extracts from, such register or indexes on payment of such fee and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed.

evidence of particulars entered therein - The Register of Copyright shall be prima facie evidence of the particulars entered therein and documents purporting to be copies of any entries therein, or extracts there from certified by the Registrar of Copyrights and sealed with the seal of the Copyright Office shall be admissible in evidence in all courts without further proof or production of the original.

Copyrights- The Register of Copyrights may, in the prescribed cases and subject to the prescribed conditions, amend or alter the Register of Copyrights by- a. correcting any error in any name, address or particulars, or b. correcting any other error which may have arisen therein by accidental slip or omission.

Board- The Copyright Board, on application of the Registrar of Copyrights or of any person aggrieved, shall order the rectification of the Register of Copyrights by- a. the making of any entry wrongly omitted to be made in the register, or b. the expunging of any entry wrongly made in, or remaining on, the register, or, c. the correction of any error or defect in the register.

Copyright in a work shall be deemed to be infringed- a. when any person, without a license granted by the owner of the Copyright or the Registrar of Copyrights under this Act or in contravention of the conditions of a license so granted or of any conditions imposed by a competent authority under this Act- i. does anything, the exclusive right to do which is by this Act conferred upon the owner of the copyright, or ii. [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.16(1) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) permits for profit any place to be used for the communication of the work to the public where such communication constitutes an infringement of the copyright in the work, unless he was not aware and had no reasonable ground for believing that such communication to the public would be an infringement of copyright, or] a. when any person- i. make for sale on hire, or sells or lets for hire, or by way of trade displays or offers for sale or hire, or ii. distributes either for the purposes of trade or to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the owner of the copyright, or iii. by way of trade exhibits in public, or iv. imports (Omitted by Act 65 of 1984, S.3 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) into India, any infringing copies of the work: [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.16(2) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) Provided that nothing in such clause (iv) shall apply to the import of one copy of any work for the private and domestic use of the importer.] Explanation – For the purposes of this section, the reproduction of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work in the form of a cinematograph film shall be deemed to be an "infringing copy". Comment : Thus, on a careful consideration and elucidation of the various authorities and the case law on the subject discussed above, the following propositions emerge : 1. There can be no copyright in an idea, subject-matter, themes, plots or historical or legendary facts and violation of the copyright in such cases is confined to the form, manner and arrangement and expression of the idea by the author of the copyrighted work. 2. Where the same idea is being developed in a different manner, it is manifest that the source being common, similarities are bound to occur. In such a case the courts should determine whether or not the similarities are on fundamental or substantial aspects of the mode of expression adopted in the copyrighted work. If the defendant's work is nothing but a literal imitation of the copyrighted, work with some variations here and there it would amount to violation of the copy-right. In other words, in order to be actionable the copy must be a substantial and material one which at once leads to the conclusion that the defendant is guilty of an act of piracy. 3. One of the surest and the safest test to determine whether or not there has been a violation of copyright is to see if the reader, spectator or the viewer after having read or seen both the works is clearly of the opinion and gets an unmistakable impression that the subsequent work appears to be a copy of the original. 4. Where the theme is the same but is presented and treated differently so that the subsequent work becomes a completely new work, no question of violation of copyright arises. 5. Where however apart from the similarities appearing in the two works there are also material and broad dissimilarities which negative the intention to copy the original and the coincidences appearing in the two works are clearly incidental no infringement of the copyright comes into existence. 6. As a violation of copyright amounts to an act of piracy it must be proved by clear and cogent evidence after applying the various tests laid down by the case law discussed above. 7. Where, however, the question is of the violation of the copyright of stage play by a film producer or a Director the task of the plaintiff becomes more difficult to prove piracy. It is manifest that unlike a stage play a film has a much broader perspective, wider field and a bigger background where the defendants can by introducing a variety of incidents give a colour and complexion different from the manner in which the copyrighted work has expressed the idea. Even so, if the viewer after seeing the film gets a totality of impression that the film is by and large a copy of the original play, violation of the copyright may be said to be proved. R G. Anand v. M/s. Delux Films, AIR 1978 SUPREME COURT 1613

copyright – (1) The following acts shall not constitute an infringement of copyright namely- a. A fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work [not being a computer programme(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) ] for the purposes of – i. [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) private use, including research:] ii. criticism or review, whether of that work or of any other work. aa.  [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) The making of copies or adaptation of a computer programme by the lawful possessor of a copy of such computer programme, from such copy- i. in order to utilize the computer programme for the purposes for which it was supplied, or ii. to make back up copies purely as a temporary protection against loss, destruction or damage in order only to utilize the computer programme for the purpose for which it was supplied;] a. A fair dealing with a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purpose of reporting current events- i. in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, or ii. by [(Note: Subs. for "radio-diffusion" by Act 23 of 1983, S.2 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) broadcast] or in a cinematograph film or by means of photographs, [(Note: Ins. by Act 23 of 1983, S.18 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) Explanation – The publication of a compilation of address or speeches delivered in public is not a fair dealing of such work within the meaning of this clause.] a. The reproduction of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work for the purpose of judicial proceeding or for the purpose a report of a judicial proceedings; b. The reproduction or publication of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work in any work prepared by the Secretariat of a Legislature, or, where the Legislature consists of two Houses, by the Secretariat of either House of the Legislature, exclusively for the use of the members of that Legislature; c. The reproduction of any literary, dramatic or musical work in a certified copy made or supplied in accordance with any law for the time being in force; d. The reading or recitation in public of any reasonable extract form a published literary or dramatic work; e. The publication in a collection, mainly composed on non copyright matter, bona fide intended for the use of educational institutions and so described in the title and in any advertisement issued by or on behalf of the publisher, of short passages from published literary or dramatic works, not themselves published for the use of educational institutions, in which copyright subsists; Provided that not more than two such passages from works by the same author are published by the same publisher during any period of five years. Explanation – In the case of a work of joint authorship, references in this clause to passages from works shall include references to passages from works by any one or more of the authors of those passages or by any one or more those authors in collaboration with any other person; f. he reproduction of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work- (i) by a teacher or a pupil in the course of instruction, or (ii) as part of the questions to be answered in an examination, or (iii) in answers to such questions i. The performance, in the course of the activities of an educational institutions, of a literary, dramatic or musical work by the staff and students of the institution, or of a cinematograph film or a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording], if the audience is limited to such staff and students, the parents and guardians of the students and persons directly connected with activities of the institution [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) or the communication to such an audience of a cinematograph film or sound recording]; j. [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) The making of sound recordings in respect of any literary, dramaticor musical work, if- i. sound recordings of that work have been made by or with the license or consent of the owner of the right in the work ii. the person making the sound recordings has given a notice of his intentions to make the sound recordings, has provided copies of all covers or labels with which the sound recordings are to be sold, and has paid in the prescribed manner to the owner of rights in the work royalties in respect of all such sound recordings to be made by him, at the rate fixed by the Copyright Board in this behalf. Provided that- i. no alterations shall be made which have not been made previously by or with the consent of the owner of rights, or which are not reasonably necessary for the adaptation of the work for the purpose of making the sound recordings. ii. the sound recordings shall not be issued in any form of packaging or with any label which is likely to mislead or confuse the public as to their identity. iii. no such sound recording shall be made until the expiration of two calendar years after the end of the year in which the first sound recording of the work was made, and iv. the person making such sound recordings shall allow the owner of rights or his duly authorized agent or representative to inspect all records and books of accounts relating to such sound recording. Provided further that if on a complaint brought before the Copyright Board to the effect that the owner of rights has not been paid in full for any sound recordings purporting to be made in pursuance of this clause, the Copyright Board is prima facie, satisfied that the complaint is genuine. It may pass an order ex parte directing the person making the sound recording to cease from making further copies and, after holding such inquiry as it considers necessary, make such further orders as it may deem fit, including an order for payment of royalty. k. the causing of a recording to be heard in public by utilizing it, - i. in an enclosed room or shall meant for the common use of residents in any residential premises (not being a hotel or similar commercial establishment) as part of the amenities provided exclusively or mainly for residents therein, or ii. as part of the activities of a club or similar organization which is not established or conducted for profit. l. the performance of a literary, dramatic or musical work by an amateur club or society, if the performance is given to a non paying audience, or for the benefit of a religious institution. m. the reproduction in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical of an article on current economic, political, social or religious topics, unless the author of such article has expressly reserved to himself the right of such reproduction. n. The publication in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical of a report of a lecture delivered in public o. The making of not more than three copies of a book (including a pamphlet, sheet of music, map, chart or plant) by or under the direction of the person in charge of a public library for the use of the library if such book is not available for sale in India. p. The reproduction, for the purpose of research or private study or with a view to publication, of an unpublished literary, dramatic or musical work kept in a library, museum or other institution to which the public has access. Provided that where the identity of the author of such work, or, in the case of a work of joint authorship, of any of the authors is known to the library, museum or other institution, as the case may be, the provisions of this clause shall apply only if such reproduction is made at a time more than fifty years from the date of the death of the author or, in the case of a work of joint authorship, from the death of the author whose identify is known or, if the identify of more authors than one is known from the death of such of those authors who dies last. q. The reproduction or publication of- i. any matter which has been published in any Gazette except an Act if a Legislature. ii. any Act of a Legislature subject to the condition that such Act is reproduced or published together with any commentary thereon or nay other original matter. iii. The report of any committee, commission, council, board or other like body appointed by the Government if such report has been laid on the Table of Legislature, unless the reproduction or publication of such report is prohibited by the Government. iv. Any judgment or order of a court, tribunal or other judicial authority, unless the reproduction or publication of such judgment or order is prohibited by the court, the tribunal or other judicial authority, as the case may be l. the production or publication of a translation in any Indian language of an Act of a Legislature and of any rules or orders made thereunder- i. if no translation of such Act or rules or orders in that language has previously been produced or published by the Government, or ii. where a translation of such Act or rules or orders in that language has been produced or published by the Government if the translation is not available for sale to the public Provided that such translation contains a statement at a prominent place to the effect that the translation has not been authorized or accepted as authentic by the Government. l. [(Note: subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) the making or publishing of a painting, drawing, engraving or photograph of a work of architecture or the display of a work of architecture.] m. The making or publishing of a painting, drawing, engraving or photograph of a sculpture, or other artistic work falling under sub clause (iii) of clause (e) of Section 2, if such work is permanently situate in a public place or any premises to which the public has access. n. The inclusion in a cinematograph film of- i. any artistic work permanently situate in a public place or any premises to which the public has access, or ii. any other artistic work, if such inclusion is only by way of background or is otherwise incidental to the principal matters represented in the film, l. the use by the author of an artistic work where the author of such work is not the owner of the copyright therein, of any mould, cast, sketch, plan, model or study made by him for the purpose of the work. Provided that he does not thereby repeat or imitate the main design of the work m. (Note: Omitted by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) n. the reconstruction of a building or structure in accordance with the architectural drawings or plans by references to which the building or structure was originally constructed. Provided that the original construction was made with the consent or license of the owner of the copyright in such drawings and plans, o. in relation to a literary, dramatic or musical work recorded or reproduced in any cinematograph film, the exhibition of such film after the expiration of the term of copyright therein. Provided that provisions of sub clause (ii) of clause (a), sub clause (I) of clause (b) and clauses (d), (f), (g), (m), and (p) shall not apply as respects any act unless that act is accompanied by an acknowledge – i. identifying the work by its title or other description, and ii. unless the work is anonymous or the author of the work has previously agreed or required that no acknowledgement of his name should be made, also identifying the author. l. [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.17 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) the making of an ephemeral recording, by a broadcasting organization using its own facilities for its own broadcast by a broadcasting organization of a work which it has the right to broadcast, and the retention of such recording for archival purpose on the ground of its exceptional documentary character. (za) the performance of a literary, dramatic or musical work or the communication to the public of such work or of a sound recording in the course of any bona fide religious ceremony or an official ceremony held by the Central Government or the State Government or any local authority. Explanation - For the purpose of this clause, religious ceremony includes a marriage procession and other social festivities associated with a marriage.] (2) The provision of sub section (I) shall apply to the doing of any act in relation to the translation of a literary, dramatic or musical work or the adaptation of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work as they apply in relation to the work itself.

(1) The Registrar of Copyrights, on application by the owner of the copyright in nay work or by his duly authorized agent and on payment of the prescribed fee, may, after making such inquiry as he deems fit, order that copies made out of India, of the work which if made in India would infringe copyright shall not be imported. (2) Subject to any riles made under this Act, the Registrar of Copyrights or any person authorized by him in this behalf may enter any ship, dock or premises where any such copies as are referred to in sub section (1) may be found and may examine such copies. (3) All copies to which any order made under sub section (1) applies shall be deemed to be goods of which the import has been prohibited or restricted [(Note: Subs. for "under Section 19 of the Sea Customs Act, 1871" by Act 23 of 1983, S.19 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) under section 11 of the Customs Act, 1962 (51 of 1962)], and all the provisions of that Act shall have effect accordingly: Provided that all such copies confiscated under the provisions of the said Act shall not vest in the Government but shall be delivered to the owner of the copyright in the work

For the purposes of this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the expression, "owner of copyright" shall include- a. an exclusive licensee : b. in the case of an anonymous or pseudonymous literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, the publisher of the work, until the identity of the author or, in the case of an anonymous work of joint authorship, or a work of joint authorship published under names all of which are pseudonyms, the identity of any of the authors, is disclose publicly by the author and the publisher or is otherwise established to the satisfaction of the Copyright Board by that author or his legal representatives.

copyright – (1) Where copyright is any work has been infringed, the owner of the copyright shall, except as otherwise provided by this Act, be entitled to all such remedies by way of injunction, damages, accounts and otherwise as are or may be conferred by law for the infringement of a right. Provided that if the defendant proves that at the date of the infringement he was not aware and had no reasonable ground for believing that copyright subsisted in the work, the Plaintiff shall not be entitled to any remedy other than an injunction in respect of the infringement and a decree for the whole or part of the profits made by the defendant by the sale of the infringing copies as the corut may in the circumstances deem reasonable. (2) Where, in the case of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, a name purporting to be that of the author or the publisher, as the case may be, appears on copies of the work as published, or, in the case of an artistic work, appeared on the work when it was made, the person whose name so appears or appeared shall, in any proceeding in respect of infringement of copyright in such work, be presumed, unless the contrary is provided, to be the author or the publisher of the work, as the case may be. (3)The costs of all parties in any proceeding in respect of the infringement of copyright shall be in the discretion of the court. NOTES Injunctions – The power of the Court to grant a temporary injunction is not limited by the absence of any finding on the question of jurisdiction which has been raised in the case. The precise rule of law contained in cl. (f), S.56, Specific Relief Act, cannot, interfere in any way with the discretion of the Court in regard to a temporary injunction the grant of which should therefore be governed by other principles.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, where the several rights comprising the copyright in any work are owned by different person, the owner of any such right shall , to the extent of that right, be entitled to the remedies provided by this Act and may individually enforce such right by means of any suit, action or other proceeding without making the owner of any other right a party to such suit, action or proceeding.

[(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.20(w.e.f. a date to be notified)) (1) Independently of the author’s copyright and even after the assignment either wholly or partially of the said copyright, the author of a work shall have the right- a. to claim authorship of the work : and b. to restrain or claim damages in respect of any distortion, mutilation, modification or other act in relation to the said work which is done before the expiration of the term of copyright if such distortion, mutilation, modification or other act would be prejudicial to his honor or reputation. Provided that the author shall not have any right to restrain or claim damages in respect of any adaptation of a computer programme to which clause (aa) of sub section (1) of Section 52 applies. Explanation- Failure to display a work or to display it to them satisfaction of the author shall not be deemed to be an infringement of the right conferred by this section. (2) The right conferred upon an author of a work by sub section (1), other than the right to claim authorship of the work, may be exercised by the legal representatives of the author.

or dealing with infringing copies – All infringing copies of any work in which copyright subsists and all plates used or intended to be used for the production of such infringing copies shall be deemed to be the property of the owner of the copyright, who accordingly may take proceedings for the recovery of possession thereof or in respect of the conversion thereof. Provided that the owner of the copyright shall not be entitled to any remedy in respect of the conversion of any infringing copies, if the opponent proves - a. That he was not aware and had not reasonable ground to believe that copyright subsisted in the work of which such copies are alleged to be infringing copies; or b. That he had reasonable grounds for believing that such copies or plates do not involve infringement of the copyright in any work. NOTES Infringing copies and price of copies sold can be recovered by owner of copyright - Gopal Das v. Jagannath Prasad. AIR 1938 ALL 266.

works of architecture – (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in [Note: Subs. for "the Specific Relief Act,1877" by Act 23 of 1983, S.20 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) the Specific Relief Act, 1963 (47 of 1963)], where the construction of a building or other structure which infringes or which, if completed, would infringe the copyright in some other work has been commenced, the owner of the copyright shall not be entitled to obtain an injunction to restrain the construction of such building or structure or to order its demolition. (2) Nothing in Section 58 shall apply in respect of the construction of a building or other structure which infringes or which, if completed, would infringe the copyright in some other work.

legal proceedings – Where any person claiming to be the owner of copyright in any work, by circulars, advertisements or otherwise, threatens any other person with any legal proceedings or liability in respect of an alleged infringement of the copyright, any person aggrieved thereby may, notwithstanding anything contained [(Note: Subs. for "in Section 42 of the Specific Relief Act,1877" by Act 23 of 1983, S.21 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) in section 34 of the Specific Relief Act,, 1963 (47 of 1963)] institute a declaratory suit that the alleged infringement to which the threats related was not in fact an infringement of any legal rights of the person making such threats and may in any such suit- a. obtain an injunction against the continuance of such threats, and b. recover such damages, if any, as he has sustained by reason of such threats: Provided that this section shall not apply if the person making such threats, with due diligence, commences and prosecutes an action of infringement of the copyright claimed by him.

proceeding – (1) In every civil suit or other proceeding regarding infringement of copyright instituted by an exclusive licensee, the owner of the copyright shall, unless the court otherwise directs, be made a defendant and where such owner is made a defendant, he shall have the right to dispute the claim of the exclusive licensee. (2) Where any civil suit or other proceeding regarding infringement of copyright instituted by an exclusive licensee is successful, no fresh suit or other proceeding in respect of the same cause of action shall lie at the instance of the owner of the copyright.

under this Chapter – (1) Every suit or other civil proceeding arising under this Chapter in respect of the infringement of copyright in any work or the infringement of any other right conferred by this Act shall be instituted in the district court having jurisdiction. (2) For the purpose of sub section (1), a "district court having jurisdiction " shall notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908), or any other law for the time being in force, include a district court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction , at the time of the institution of the suit or other proceeding, the person instituting the suit or other proceeding or, where there are more than one such persons, any of them actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain.

other rights conferred by this Act – Any person who knowingly infringes or abets the infringement of- a. the copyright in a work, or b. any other right concerned by this Act [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.21 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) except the right conferred by Section 53-A] [(Note: Subs. by Act 65 of 1984, S.5 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extended to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees: Provided that [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.21 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) where the infringement has not been made for gain in the course of trade or business] the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months or a fine of less than fifty thousand rupees.] Explanation – Construction of a building or other structure which infringes or which, if completed, would infringe the copyright in some other work shall not be an offence under this section.

– [Note: Subs. for sub-section (1) by Act 65 of 1984, S.7 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) (1) Any police officer, not below the rank of a sub inspector, may, if he is satisfied that an offence under Section 63 in respect of the infringement of copyright in work has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed, seize without warrant, all copies of the work, and all plates used for the purpose of making infringing copies of the work, wherever found, and all copies and plates so seized shall, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate.] (2) Any person having an interest in any copies of a work [(Note: Ins. by Act 65 of 1984, S.7 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) , or plates] seized under sub section (1) may, within fifteen days of such seizure, make an application to the Magistrate for such copies [(Note: Ins. by Act 65 of 1984, S.7 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) or plates] being restored to him and the Magistrate, after hearing the applicant and the complainant and making such further inquiry as may be necessary, shall make such order on the application, as he may deem fit.

infringing copies – Any person who knowingly makes, or has in his possession, any plate for the purpose of making infringing copies of any work in which copyright subsists shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to [(Note: Subs. for "one year, or with fine, or with both" by Act 65 of 1984,S.8 (w.e.f. 8-10-1984)) two years and shall also be liable to fine.]

for purpose of making infringing copies – The court trying and offence under this Act may, whether the alleged offender is convicted or not, order that all copies of the work or all plates in the possession of the alleged offender, which appear to it to be infringing copies, or plates for the purpose of making infringing copies, be delivered up to the owner of the copyright.

register etc, for producing or tendering false entries – Any person who,- a. makes or causes to be made a false entry in the Register of Copyrights kept under this Act, or b. makes a causes to be made a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of any entry in such register, or c. produces or tenders or causes to be produced or tendered as evidence any such entry or writing, knowing the same to be false. Shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

the purpose of deceiving or influencing any authority or officer – Any person who, - a. with a view to deceiving any authority or officer in the execution of the provisions of this Act, or b. with a view to procuring or influencing the doing or omission of anything in relation to this act or any matter thereunder , makes a false statement or representation knowing the same to be false , shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

(1) Where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to the company for, the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Provided that nothing contained in this sub section shall render any person liable to nay punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any negligence on the part of , any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Explanation – For the purposes of this section- a. "company" means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of persons, and b. "director" in relation to a firm means a partner in the firm.

No court inferior to that of [(Note: Subs. for "a Presidency Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class" by Act 23 of 1983, S.22 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) a Metropolitan Magistrate or Judicial Magistrate of the first class] shall try any offence under this Act.

Magistrate – Any person aggrieved by an order made under sub section (2) of Section 64 or Section 66 may, within thirty days of the date of such order, appeal to the court to which appeals from the court making he order ordinarily lie, and such appellate court may direct that execution of the order be stayed pending disposal of the appeal.

Copyrights and Copyright Board – (1) Any person aggrieved by any final decision or order of the Registrar of Copyrights may, within three months from the date of the order or decision, appeal to the Copyright Board. (2) Any person aggrieved by any final decision or order of the Copyright Broad, not being a decision or order made in an appeal under sub section (1), may within three months from the date of such decision or order, appeal to the High Court within whose jurisdiction the appellant actually and voluntarily resides or carries on business or personally works for gain. Provided that no such appeal shall lie against a decision of the Copyright Board under Section 6. (3) In calculating the period of three months provided for an appeal under this section, the time taken in granting a certified copy of the order or record of the decision appealed against shall be excluded.

This High Court may make rules consistent with this Act as to the procedure to be followed in respect of appeals made to it under Section 72.

Board to possess certain powers of civil courts – The Registrar of Copyright and the Copyright Board shall have the powers of a civil court when trying a suit under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 ( 5 of 1908) in respect of the following matters, namely :- a. summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining him and oath : b. requiring the discovery and production of any document c. receiving evidence on affidavits : d. issuing commissions for the examinations of witnesses or documents : e. requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office : f. any other matter which may be prescribed. Explanation - For the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses, the local limits of the jurisdiction of the Registrar of Copyrights or the Copyrights Board, as the case may be, shall be the limits of the territory of India.

Registrar of Copyrights and Copyright Broad to be executable as a decree – Every order made by the Registrar of Copyrights or the Copyright Board under this Act for the payment of any money or by the High Court in any appeal against any such order of the Copyright Board shall, on a certificate issued by the Registrar of Copyrights, the Copyright Board or the Registrar of the High Court, as the case may be, de deemed to be a decree of a civil court and shall be executable in he same manner as a decree of such court.

No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person in respect of anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act.

servants Every officer appointed under this Act and every member of the Copyright Broad shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of Section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules (Note: For the Copyright Rules,1958, see. Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, p.167) for carrying out the purposes of this Act. (2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the Central Government may make rules to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely – a. The term of office and conditions of service of the Chairman and other members of the Copyright Broad b. The form of complaints and applications to be made, and the license to be granted under this Act, c. The procedure to be followed in connection with any proceeding before the Registrar of Copyrights, (ca) [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.24 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) the conditions for submission of application under sub section (2) of Section 33, (cb) The conditions subjects to which a copyright society may be registered under sub section (3) of Section 33. a. The inquiry for cancellation of registration under sub section (4) of Section 33 i. The conditions subject to which the copyright society may accept authorization under clause (a) of sub section (1) of Section 34 and the conditions subject to which owners of rights have right to withdraw such authorization under clause (d) of that sub section. (ce) The manner in which the approval of the owners of rights regarding collection and distribution of fees, approval for utilization of any amount collected as fees and to provide to such owners information concerning activities in relation to the administration of their rights under sub section (1) of Section 36. (cf) The manner in which the approval of the owners of rights regarding collection and distribution of fees, approval for utilization of any amount collected as fees and to provide to such owners information concerning activities in relation to the administration of their rights under sub-section (1) of Section 35; (cg) The returns to be filed by copyright societies to the Registrar of Copyrights under sub-section (1) of Section 36;] a. The manner of determining any royalties payable under this Act, and the security to be taken for the payment of such royalties; (da) [(Note: Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, S.24 (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) The manner of payment of royalty under clause (j) of sub-section (1) of Section 52; (db) The form and the manner in which the copyright society shall maintain accounts and other relevant records and prepare annual statements of accounts and the manner in which the quantum of remuneration is to be paid to individual owner of rights under sub section (I) of Section 52-B.] b. The form of Register of Copyrights to be kept under this Act and the particulars to be entered therein. c. The matters in respect of which the Registrar of Copyrights and the Copyright Board shall have powers of a civil court. d. The fees which may be payable under this Act. e. The regulation of business of the Copyright Office and of all things by this Act placed under the direction or control of the Registrar of Copyrights. (3) [(Note: Subs. for sub-section 3 by Act 23 of 1983, Section 23 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session , for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive session aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]

provisions – (1) The Indian Copyright Act, 1914 (3 of 1914), and the Copyright Act of 1911 passed by the Parliament of the Untied Kingdom as modified in its application to India by the Indian Copyright Act, 1914, are hereby repealed. (2) Where nay person has , before the commencement of this Act, taken any action whereby he has incurred and expenditure or liabilities in connection with the reproduction or performance of any work in a manner which at the time was lawful or for the purpose of or with a view to the reproduction or performance of a work at a time when such reproduction or performance would, bur for the coming into force of this Act, have been lawful, nothing in this section shall diminish or prejudice any rights or interest arising from or in connection with such action which are subsisting and valuable at the said date, unless the person who, by virtue of this Act, becomes entitled to restrain such reproduction or performance agrees to pay such compensation as, failing agreement, may be determined by the Copyright Board. (3) Copyright shall not subsist by virtue of this Act in any work in which copyright did not subsist immediately before the commencement of this Act under any Act repealed by sub section (1). (4) Where copyright subsisted in any work immediately before the commencement of this Act, the rights comprising such copyright such copyright shall, as form the date of such commencement, e the rights specified in Section 14 in relation to the class of works to which such work belongs, and where any new rights are conferred by that section, the owner of such rights shall be- a. in any case where copyright in the work was wholly assigned before the commencement of this Act, the assignee or his successor-in-interest. b. In any other case, the person who was first owner of the copyright in the work under any Act repealed by sub section (1) or his legal representatives. (5) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, where any person is entitled immediately before the commencement of this Act to copyright in any work or any right in such copyright or to an interest in any such right, he shall continue to be entitled to such right or interest for the period which he would have been entitled thereto if this Act and come into force. (6) Nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed to render any act done before its commencement an infringement of copyright if that act would not otherwise have constituted such an infringement. (7) Save as otherwise provided in this section, nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect the application of the General Clause Act, 1897 (10 of 1897), with respect to the effect of repeals.