Indian Copyright Act, 1957
An Act to amend and consolidate the law relating to copyright.
Chapter I: Preliminary
- 1 Short title, extent and commencement
- 2 Interpretation 7 judgments
- 3 Meaning of publication
- 4 When work not deemed to be published or performed in public
- 5 When work deemed to be first published in India
- 6 Certain disputes to be decided by Commercial Court
- 7 Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period
- 8 Domicile of Corporations
Chapter II: Copyright Office and Appellate Board
- 9 Copyright Office
- 10 Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Copyrights
- 11 Omitted 1 judgment
- 12 Omitted 1 judgment
Chapter III: Copyright
Chapter IV: Ownership of Copyright and the Rights of the Owner
Chapter V: Term of Copyright
- 22 Term of copyright in published literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
- 23 Term of copyright in anonymous and pseudonymous works
- 24 Term of copyright in posthumous work
- 25 [Omitted.]
- 26 Term of copyright in cinematograph films
- 27 Term of copyright in sound recording
- 28 Term of copyright Government works
- 28A Term of copyright in works of public undertakings
- 29 Term of copyright in works of international organisations
Chapter VI: Licences
- 30 Licences by owners of copyright 3 judgments
- 30A Application of sections 19 1 judgment
- 31 Compulsory licence in works withheld from public 2 judgments
- 31A Compulsory licence in unpublished or published works
- 31B Compulsory licence for benefit of disabled
- 31C Statutory licence for cover versions
- 31D Statutory licence for broadcasting of literary and musical works and sound recording
- 32 Licence to produce and publish translations
- 32A Licence to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes
- 32B Termination of licences issued under this Chapter
Chapter VII: Copyright Societies
- 33 Registration of copyright society
- 33A Tariff Scheme by copyright societies 1 judgment
- 34 Administration of rights of owner by copyright society
- 34A [Omitted.]
- 35 Control over the copyright society by the author and other owners of right
- 36 Submission of returns and reports
- 36A Rights and liabilities of performing rights societies
Chapter VIII: Rights of Broadcasting Organisation and of Performers
- 37 Broadcast reproduction right 2 judgments
- 38 Performer’s right
- 38A Exclusive right of performers
- 38B Moral rights of the performer
- 39 Acts not infringing broadcast reproduction right or performer’s right
- 39A Certain provisions to apply in case of broadcast reproduction right and performer’s rights
Chapter IX: International Copyright
- 40 Power to extend copyright to foreign works
- 40A Power of Central Government to apply Chapter VIII to broadcasting organisations and performers in certain other countries
- 41 Provisions as to works of certain international organisations
- 42 Power to restrict rights in works of foreign authors first published in India
- 42A Power to restrict rights of foreign broadcasting organisations and performer’s
- 43 Orders under this Chapter to be laid before Parliament
Chapter X: Registration of Copyright
- 44 Register of Copyrights
- 45 Entries in Register of Copyrights 1 judgment
- 46 Indexes
- 47 Form and inspection of register
- 48 Register of Copyrights to be prima facie evidence of particulars entered therein
- 49 Correction of entries in the Register of Copyrights
- 50 Rectification of Register by High Court
- 50A Entries in the Register of Copyrights, etc., to be published
Chapter XI: Infringement of Copyright
Chapter XII: Civil Remedies
- 54 Definition 1 judgment
- 55 Civil remedies for infringement of copyright
- 56 Protection of separate rights
- 57 Author’s special rights
- 58 Rights of owner against persons possessing or dealing with infringing copies 1 judgment
- 59 Restriction on remedies in the case of works of architecture
- 60 Remedy in the case of groundless threat of legal proceedings 1 judgment
- 61 Owner of copyright to be party to the proceeding 1 judgment
- 62 Jurisdiction of court over matters arising under this Chapter 4 judgments
Chapter XIII: Offences
- 63 Offences of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act 7 judgments
- 63A Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions
- 63B Knowing use of infringing copy of computer programme to be an offence 1 judgment
- 64 Power of police to seize infringing copies 1 judgment
- 65 Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies 2 judgments
- 65A Protection of technological measures 1 judgment
- 65B Protection of Rights Management Information
- 66 Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies
- 67 Omitted
- 68 Omitted
- 68A Penalty for contravention of section 52A
- 69 Offences by companies
- 70 Cognizance of offences
Chapter XIV: Appeals
Chapter XV: Miscellaneous
- 74 Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to possess certain powers of civil courts
- 75 Orders for payment of money passed by Registrar of Copyrights and Appellate Board to be executable as a decree 1 judgment
- 76 Protection of action taken in good faith
- 77 Certain persons to be public servants
- 78 Power to make rules 1 judgment
- 79 Repeals, savings and transitional provisions
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.