The Copyright Act, 1957

Chapter XIII
OFFENCES

  1. Offence of infringement of copyright or other rights conferred by this Act.-- Any person who knowingly infringes or abets the infringement of--
    1. the copyright in a work, or
    2. any other right conferred by this Act, except the right conferred by section 53A

    shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees:
    Provided that where the infringement has not been made for gain on the course of trade or business the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months or a fine of less than fifty thousand rupees.


    63A. Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions.-- Whoever having already been convicted of an offence under Section 63 is again convicted of any such offence shall be punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than one lakh rupees but which may extend to two lakh rupees:
    Provided that where the infringement has not been made for gain in the course of trade or business the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than one year or a fine of less than one lakh rupees:
    Provided further that for the purposes of this section, no cognizance shall be taken of any conviction made before the commencement of the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1984 (65 of 1984).


    63B. Knowing use of infringing copy of computer programme to be an offence.--Any person who knowingly makes use on a computer of an infringing copy of a computer programme shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven days but which may extend to three years and with fine which shall not be less than fifty thousand rupees but which may extent to two lakh rupees:
    Provided that where the computer programme has not been used for gain or in the course of trade or business, the Court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgement, not impose any sentence of imprisonment and may impose a fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

  2. Power of police to seize infringing copies.--
    1. Any police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, may if he is satisfied that an offence under Section 63 in respect of the infringement of copyright in any work has been, is being, or is likely to be, committed, seize without warrant, all copies of the work, and all plates used for the purpose of making infringing copies of the work, wherever found, and all copies and plates so seized shall, as soon as practicable, be produced before a Magistrate.
    2. Any person having interest in any copies of a work, or plates seized under sub-section (1) may, within fifteen days of such seizure, make an application to the Magistrate for such copies or plates being restored to him and the Magistrate, after hearing the applicant and the complainant and making such further inquiry, as may be necessary, shall make such order on the application, as he may deem fit.
  3. Possession of plates for purpose of making infringing copies.-- Any person who knowingly makes, or has in his possession, any plate for the purpose of making infringing copies of any work in which copyright subsists shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.
  4. Disposal of infringing copies or plates for purpose of making infringing copies.-- The Court trying any offence under this Act may, whether the alleged offender is convicted or not, order that all copies of the work or all plates in the possession of the alleged offender, which appear to it to be infringing copies, or plates for the purpose of making infringing copies, be delivered up to the owner of the copyright.
  5. Penalty for making false entries in register, etc., for producing or tendering false entries.-- Any person who,--
    1. makes or causes to be made a false entry in the Register of Copyrights kept under this Act, or
    2. makes or causes to be made a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of any entry in such register, or
    3. produces or tenders or causes to be produced or tendered as evidence any such entry or writing, knowing the same to be false, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine or with both.
  6. Penalty for making false statements for the purpose of deceiving or influencing any authority or officer.-- Any person who,--
    1. with a view to deceiving any authority or officer in the execution of the provisions of this Act, or
    2. with a view to procuring or influencing the doing or omission of anything in relation to this Act or any matter thereunder,

    makes a false statement or representation knowing the same to be false, shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

    68A. Penalty for contravention of section 52A.-- Any person who publishes a record or a video film in contravention of the provisions of Section 52-A shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine.

  7. Offences by companies. --
    1. Where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time of the offence was committed was in charge of ,and was responsible to the company for, the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
      Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any person liable to any punishment, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
    2. Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, and it is proved that the offence was committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to any negligence on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company,such director,manager,secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
  8. Cognizance of offences. -- No Court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Judicial Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act.