Section 23 – THE COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

— (1) In the case of literary, dramatic,
musical or artistic work (other than a photograph), which is published anonymously or pseudonymously,
copyright shall subsist until 5
[sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in
which the work is first published:
Provided that where the identity of the author is disclosed before the expiry of the said period, copyright shall

1 Subs. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 11(i), for “the Registrar of Copyright” (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
2
Ins. by s. 11(ii), ibid. (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
3 The words “(other than a photograph)” omitted by Act 27 of 2012 s. 12, (w.e.f. 21-6-2012).
4 Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2, for “fifty years” (w.e.f. 28-10-1991).
5 Subs. by Act 13 of 1992, s. 2, for “fifty years” (w.e.f. 28-10-1991).
subsist until 1
[sixty years] from the beginning of the calendar year next following the year in which the author
dies.
(2) In sub-section (1), references to the author shall, in the case of an anonymous work of joint authorship, be
construed,—
(a) where the identity of one of the authors is disclosed, as references to that author;
(b) where the identity of more authors than one is disclosed, as references to the author who dies last
from amongst such authors.
(3) In sub-section (1), references to the author shall, in the case of a pseudonyms work of joint authorship, be
construed,—
(a) where the names of one or more (but not all) of the authors are pseudonyms and his or their identity
is not disclosed, as references to the author whose name is not a pseudonym, or, if the names of two
or more of the authors are not pseudonyms, as references to such of those authors who dies last;
(b) where the names of one or more (but not all) of the authors are pseudonyms and the identity of one
or more of them is disclosed, as references to the author who dies last from amongst the authors
whose names are not pseudonyms and the authors whose names are pseudonyms and are disclosed;
and
(c) where the names of all the authors are pseudonyms and the identity of one of them is disclosed, as
references to the author whose identity is disclosed or if the identity of two or more of such authors
is disclosed, as references to such of those authors who dies last.
Explanation.— For the purposes of this section, the identity of an author shall be deemed to have been
disclosed, if either the identity of the author is disclosed publicly by both the author and the publisher or is
otherwise established to the satisfaction of the 2
[Appellate Board] by that author.