(1) Any association of persons, having an independent legal personality, comprising seven or more authors and other owners of rights (hereinafter referred to as "the applicant") formed for the purpose of carrying on the business of issuing or granting licences in respect of a right or set of rights in specific categories of works may file with the Registrar of Copyrights an application in Form VIII for submission to the Central Government for grant of permission to carry on such business and for its registration as a copyright society. The Central Government may grant registration of the society for a period of five years under sub-section (3A) of section 33.
(2) An application under sub-rule (1) of rule 44 shall be signed by the Chairman, all other members of the Governing Council (by whatever name called) with such number of persons elected from among the members of the society consisting of equal number of authors and other owners of right, if any, for the purpose of the administration of the society and the Chief Executive Officer of the applicant (who need not be a member).
(3) The business of issuing or granting licence in respect of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works incorporated in a cinematograph film or sound recording shall be carried out only through a copyright society duly registered under section 33 of the Act.