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Section 14: Meaning of copyright.

The Copyright Act, 1957Central Act · Act 14 of 1957

[14. Meaning of copyright.-- For the purposes of this Act, copyright means the exclusive right subject to the provisions of this Act, to do or authorise the doing of any of the following acts in respect of a work or any substantial part thereof, namely--

(a) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work, not being a computer programme,--

(i) to reproduce the work in any material form including the storing of it in any medium by electronic means;

(ii) to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation;

(iii) to perform the work in public, or communicate it to the public;

(iv) to make any cinematograph film or sound recording in respect of the work;

(v) to make any translation of the work;

(vi) to make any adaptation of the work;

(vii) to do, in relation to a translation or an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in sub-clauses (i) to (vi);

(b) in the case of a computer programme:

(i) to do any of the acts specified in clause (a);

[(ii) to sell or give on commercial rental or offer for sale or for commercial rental any copy of the computer programmer:

Provided that such commercial rental does not apply in respect of computer programmes where the programme itself is not the essential object of the rental.]

(c) in the case of an artistic work,--

[(i) to reproduce the work in any material form including--

(A) the storing of it in any medium by electronic or other means; or

(B) depiction in three-dimensions of a two-dimensional work; or

(C) depiction in two-dimensions of a three-dimensional work;]

(d) in the case of a cinematograph film,--

[(i) to make a copy of the film, including--

(A) a photograph of any image forming part thereof; or

(B) storing of it in any medium by electronic or other means;]

[(ii) to sell or give on commercial rental or offer for sale or for such rental, any copy of the film.]

(iii) to communicate the film to the public;

(e) in the case of a sound recording,--

(i) to make any other sound recording embodying it [including storing of it in any medium by electronic or other means];

[(ii) to sell or give on commercial rental or offer for sale or for such rental, any copy of the sound recording;]

(iii) to communicate the sound recording to the public.

Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, a copy which has been sold once shall be deemed to be a copy already in circulation].

Where this provision sits

ActThe Copyright Act, 1957
Section14
Marginal noteMeaning of copyright.
JurisdictionCentral
StatusIn force as published by the source
Judgments citing it1

How this provision has been amended

Taken from the footnotes printed with the provision by the source. Where a footnote names the amending instrument, it is quoted as printed.

  • substituted. . Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for section 14 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995).
  • substituted, Act 49 of 1999. . Subs. by Act 49 of 1999, s. 3, for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 15-1-2000)
  • substituted, Act 27 of 2012. . Subs. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 5, for clause (c) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
  • substituted. . Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for clause (d) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
  • substituted. . Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
  • inserted. . Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
  • substituted. . Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).

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