The Copyright Act, 1957

The Copyright Act, 1957 is an act that amends and consolidates the law relating to copyright. It extends to the whole of India and shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may appoint.

The Act defines various terms including "adaptation", "broadcast reproduction right", "performer's right", "sound recording", "visual recording", and "work". The Act also provides for the establishment of a Copyright Office, which shall be under the control of the Registrar of Copyrights.

The Act confers copyright on certain works including original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings, and works of joint authorship. However, copyright does not subsist in any work specified in sub-section (1), unless the provisions of section 40 or section 41 apply.

The Act also provides for the assignment of copyright, transmission of copyright in manuscript by testamentary disposition, and the right of author to relinquish copyright.

The Act deals with the term of copyright, which includes the publication year and the date on which a work was published. The Act also deals with the infringement of copyright, including the importation of infringing copies and the resale share right in original copies.

The Act provides for various civil remedies for infringement of copyright, including protection of separate rights, author's special rights, and restrictions on remedies in the case of works of architecture.

The Act also deals with offenses relating to copyright, including infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act. The Act imposes penalties for making false entries in the register, producing or tendering false entries, and possession of plates for the purpose of making infringing copies.

The Act establishes an Appellate Board, which shall have power to regulate its own procedure, including the fixing of places and times of its sittings. The Act also provides for the appeal against certain orders of the Magistrate and the Registrar of Copyrights and the Appellate Board.

The Act provides for various miscellaneous provisions including the possession of certain powers of civil courts by the registrar and the appellate board, orders for payment of money passed by the registrar and the appellate board to be executable as a decree, protection of action taken in good faith, and the power to make rules.