1[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);
2[(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,--
3[(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,--
4[(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;]
5[(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 6[including storing of it in any medium by electronic or other means];
7[(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].
(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);
2[(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,--
3[(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,--
4[(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;]
5[(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 6[including storing of it in any medium by electronic or other means];
7[(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].
Source footnotes
1. Subs. by s. 7, ibid., for section 14 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995).2. Subs. by Act 49 of 1999, s. 3, for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 15-1-2000)
3. Subs. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 5, for clause (c) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
4. Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for clause (d) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
5. Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
6. Ins. by s. 5, ibid. (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
7. Subs. by s. 5, ibid., for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
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More sections of this act
Section 1 · Short title, extent and commencement.Section 2 · Interpretation.Section 3 · Meaning of publication.Section 4 · When work not deemed to be published or performed in public.Section 5 · When work deemed to be first published in India.Section 6 · Certain disputes to be decided by Commercial Court.Section 7 · Nationality of author where the making of unpublished work is extended over considerable period.Section 8 · Domicile of Corporations.India Code, Government of India. Text fetched 10 Oct 2026. Check the linked official text and subsequent notifications when applying a provision.