Section 78 – THE COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957

— (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make
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rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the Central Government may
make rules to provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—
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(b) the form of complaints and applications to be made, and the licences to be granted, under this
Act;
(c) the procedure to be followed in connection with any proceeding before the Registrar of Copyrights;
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[(cA) the form and manner in which an organisation may apply to the 1[Appellate Board] for compulsory
licence for disabled and the fee which may accompany such application under sub-section (1) of 31B;
(cB) the manner in which a person making sound recording may give prior notice of his intention to make
sound recording under sub-section (2) of section 31C;
(cC) the register and books of account and the details of existing stock which a person making sound
recording may maintain under sub-section (5) of section 31C;
(cD) the manner in which prior notice may be given by a broadcasting organisation under sub-section (2) of
section 31D;
(cE) the reports and accounts which may be maintained under clause (a), and the inspection of records and
books of account which may be made under clause (b) or sub-section (7) of section 31D];
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[(ca) the conditions for submission of application under sub-section (2) of section 33;
(cb) the conditions subject to which a copyright society may be registered under sub-section (3) of section
33;
(cc) the inquiry for cancellation of registration under sub-section (4) of section 33;]
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[(ccA) the manner in which a copyright society may publish its Tariff Scheme under sub-section (1) of

1 Subs. by Act 7 of 2017, s.160, for “Copyright Board” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017).
2 For the Copyright Rules, 1958, see Gazette of India, Extra., Pt. II, s.3, p.167.
3 Clause (a) omitted by Finance Act, 2017, s. 160(e).
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Ins. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 39(ii) (w.e.f. 21-06-2012)
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Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s. 24 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995)
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Ins. by Act 27 of 2012, s. 39(iii) (w.e.f. 21-06-2012)
section 33A;
(ccB) the fee which is to be paid before filing an appeal to the 1
[Appellate Board] under sub-section (2) of
section 33A;
(ccC) the form of application for renewal of registration of a copyright society and the fee which may
accompany such application under sub-section (3A) of section 33;]
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[(cd) the conditions subject to which the copyright society may accept authorisation under clause (a) of
sub-section (1) of section 34 and the conditions subject to which owners or rights have right to withdraw
such authorisation under clause (d) of that sub-section;
(ce) the conditions subject to which a copyright society may issue licences, collect fees and distribute such
fees amongst owners of rights under sub-section (3) of section 34;]
(cf) the manner in which the approval of the owners of rights regarding collection and distribution of fees,
approval for utilisation of any amount collected as fees and to provide to such owners information
concerning activities in relation to the administration of their rights under sub-section (1) of section 35;
(cg) the returns to be filed by copyright societies to the Registrar of Copyrights under sub-section (1) of
section 36;]
(d ) the manner of determining any royalties payable under this Act, and the security to be taken for the
payment of such royalties;
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[(da) the manner of payment of royalty under clause (j) of sub-section (1) of section 52;]
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(e) the form of Register of Copyrights to be kept under this Act and the particulars to be entered therein;
(f) the matters in respect of which the Registrar of Copyrights and the 1
[Appellate Board] shall have powers
of a civil court;
(g) the fees which may be payable under this Act;
(h) the regulation of business of the Copyright Office and of all things by this Act placed under the
direction or control of the Registrar of Copyrights.
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[(3) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of
Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two
or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the
successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that
the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as
the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity

1 Subs. by Act 7 of 2017, s.160, for “Copyright Board” (w.e.f. 26-5-2017).
2
Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s.24 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995)
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Ins. by Act 38 of 1994, s.24 (w.e.f. 10-5-1995)
4 Clause (db) omitted by Act 27 of 2012, s.39 (iv) (w.e.f. 21-6-2012)
5 Subs. by Act 23 of 1983, s. 23, for sub-section (3) (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)
of anything previously done under that rule.]