Lawgist logo - L! Lawgist.
The Copyright Act

13Works in which copyright subsists

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section and the other provisions of this Act, copyright shall subsist throughout India in the following classes of works, that is to say,--

(a) original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works;

(b) cinematograph films; and

(c) 1[sound recording].

(2) Copyright shall not subsist in any work specified in sub-section (1), other than a work to which the provisions of section 40 or section 41 apply, unless--

(i) in the case of a published work, the work is first published in India, or where the work is first published outside India, the author is at the date of such publication, or in a case where the author was dead at that date, was at the time of his death, a citizen of India;

(ii) in the case of an unpublished work other than a 2[work of architecture], the author is at the date of making of the work a citizen of India or domiciled in India; and

(iii) in the case of a 2[work of architecture], the work is located in India.

Explanation.--In the case of a work of joint authorship, the conditions conferring copyright specified in this sub-section shall be satisfied by all the authors of the work.

(3) Copyright shall not subsist

(a) in any cinematograph film if a substantial part of the film is an infringement of the copyright in any other work;

(b) in any 3[sound recording] made in respect of a literary, dramatic or musical work, if in making the 3[sound recording], copyright in such work has been infringed.

(4) The copyright in a cinematograph film or a record shall not affect the separate copyright in any work in respect of which or a substantial part of which, the film, or, as the case may be, the 3[sound recording] is made.--

(5) In the case of a 3[work of architecture], copyright shall subsist only in the artistic character and design and shall not extend to processes or methods of construction.--

Download our fully-offline, High speed android app.- Click here

1. Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 2, for "record" (w.e.f. 10-5-1995).

2. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for "architectural work of art" (w.e.f. 10-5-1995).

3. Subs. by s. 2, ibid., for "record" (w.e.f. 10-5-1995)

Download the App Now!

Get our Android app for fast and offline Access.

Get it on Google Play
Lawgist is not a law firm and does not engage in the practice of law or provide legal advice or legal representation. All information, software, services, and comments provided on this site are for informational and self-help purposes only and are not intended to be a substitute for professional legal advice. Use of this site is subject to our Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer, and Privacy Policy.About Us Made in ♥ with India, Internet and Lots of Courtroom Dramas