The Copyright Act, 1957 — India law | Esheria

The Copyright Act, 1957

This provision sets the Act’s short title, creates key copyright definitions, establishes the Copyright Office and Registrar, and sets out core rules on copyright ownership, assignment, licence, relinquishment, and the Act’s commencement.

Jurisdiction
India
Instrument
Act or statute
Version
Undated source snapshot
Language
en
Official source
View official record ↗
appeals to court broadcasting civil court powers copyright administration copyright assignment copyright duration copyright ownership copyright registration copyright societies court procedure customs enforcement exceptions and fair dealing government rulemaking infringement licensing penalties register inspection royalties transitional provisions translations

Statute overview

About this statute

This provision sets the Act’s short title, creates key copyright definitions, establishes the Copyright Office and Registrar, and sets out core rules on copyright ownership, assignment, licence, relinquishment, and the Act’s commencement. This provision sets conditions for statutory copyright licences, cover versions, broadcasting, translations, reproduction, copyright societies, and related rights. This part sets rules for copyright registration, inspection of the register, customs action against infringing imports, exceptions to infringement, and criminal/civil consequences. This provision sets appeal and procedure rules, gives the Registrar of Copyrights civil-court-type powers for certain matters, lets the High Court and Central Government make rules, protects good-faith acts, and contains repeal and saving rules.

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