Section 14 – THE COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

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,—

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. 7, ibid., for section 14 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995).
(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);

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[(ii) to sell or give on commercial rental or offer for sale or for commercial rental any copy of the computer
programme:
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,—
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[(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;]
(ii) to communicate the work to the public;
(iii) to issue copies of the work to the public not being copies already in circulation;
(iv) to include the work in any cinematograph film;
(v) to make any adaptation of the work;
(vi) to do in relation to adaptation of the work any of the acts specified in relation to the work in sub-clauses
(i) to (iv);
(d) in the case of a cinematograph film,—

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

1 Subs. by Act 49 of 1999, s. 3, for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 15-1-2000).
2 Subs. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 5(i), for sub-clause (i) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
3 Subs. by Act 27 of 2012,s. 5(ii)(a), for sub-clause (i) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012)
4 Subs. by Act 27 of 2012,s. 5(ii)(b), for sub-clause (ii) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012)
(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 1
[including storing of it in any medium by
electronic or other means];
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[(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.