The Indian Copyright Act, 1957 is the principal copyright law of India. It regulates the rights of authors and other creators of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films, and sound recordings. The Act also provides for the rights of broadcasters and performers.
The copyright law of India has evolved over time. The first copyright law in India was the Copyright Act of 1847, which was based on the British Copyright Act of 1842. The Copyright Act of 1847 was replaced by the Copyright Act of 1914, which was in turn replaced by the current Copyright Act of 1957.
Key Provisions of the Indian Copyright Act, 1957
* Copyright protection: The Act provides copyright protection to literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films, and sound recordings created by Indian authors and those whose works are first published in India.
* Duration of copyright: The duration of copyright protection is generally the lifetime of the author plus 60 years from the date of his or her death. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as for anonymous works and works of government.
* Copyright infringement: The Act prohibits the unauthorized use of copyrighted material. Copyright infringement can take many forms, such as unauthorized reproduction, distribution, performance, or display of copyrighted works.
* Remedies for copyright infringement: The Act provides several remedies for copyright infringement, including injunctions, damages, and criminal penalties.
* Exceptions and limitations: The Act also provides for some exceptions and limitations to copyright protection, such as fair use and compulsory licensing.