IP, Tech & Personal

Copyright Act, 1957

1957 · Ministry of Commerce and Industry · 79 sections

Protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings; governs ownership, assignment, licensing, fair dealing, infringement and remedies.

Most-invoked sections

Works in which copyright subsists

Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings, subject to publication or authorship conditions.

Meaning of copyright

The exclusive right to reproduce, issue copies, perform or communicate to the public, make translations or adaptations, and — for computer programmes — to sell or give on commercial rental.

First owner of copyright

The author is the first owner, except works made in the course of employment under a contract of service (the employer), commissioned photographs, paintings and films (the person commissioning, unless agreed otherwise), and Government works.

Assignment of copyright

Assignment may be of the whole or part, for existing or future works; assignment of rights in a work for a medium or mode of exploitation not in existence at the time is void unless specifically referred to.

When copyright infringed

Doing anything the exclusive right to do which is conferred on the owner without a licence, permitting a place to be used for infringing communication, or dealing in infringing copies.

Certain acts not to be infringement

Fair dealing for private use, research, criticism, review or reporting; reproduction for judicial proceedings; educational use; transient storage; and the other enumerated exceptions.

Civil remedies for infringement

Injunction, damages, accounts and otherwise as conferred by law; where the defendant proves unawareness of copyright, the plaintiff is limited to an injunction and profits.

Offence of infringement

Knowing infringement or abetment — imprisonment of six months to three years and fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh; cognizable and non-bailable (Knit Pro International, 2022).

The text shown is a working summary used inside Nyaya for grounding and UI preview. For verbatim reproduction, refer to the bare Act published on indiacode.nic.in.