Meaning of copyright
Section 14 of the Copyright Act, 1957 deals with 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 compu The Act came into force on 21 Jan 1958.
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].
Section 14, The Copyright Act, 1957 (Act 14 of 1957).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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The Chancellor, Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford v. Rameshwari Photocopy Service
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Photocopying extracts of copyrighted textbooks into course packs for university students is fair dealing for the purpose of instruction under Copyright Act s.52(1)(i)/(h), not infringement of the s.14 bundle. Education is not a market the copyright owner can monopolise against classroom use. Endlaw J. (CS(OS) 2439/2012). The later DB 9 Dec 2016 remand is not in the eCourts index; 2017-03-10 order-5.pdf is disposal/withdrawal — this row is the 16 Sep 2016 teaching judgment (View JUDGEMENT).
On this section: The s.14 exclusive-right bundle does not monopolise classroom reproduction that s.52 fair dealing already permits.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 14
What have the courts held on Section 14 of the Copyright Act?
The Chancellor, Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford v. Rameshwari Photocopy Service (16 Sep 2016) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: The s.14 exclusive-right bundle does not monopolise classroom reproduction that s.52 fair dealing already permits.
How do I find court cases under Section 14 of the Copyright Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Copyright Act 14, section 14 Copyright Act, section 14 of the Copyright Act. People searching for it also type copyright act 1957 14 of 1957 and copyright act section 13 and 14. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with The Chancellor, Masters & Scholars of the University of Oxford v. Rameshwari Photocopy Service (16 Sep 2016).
What should I read with Section 14 of the Copyright Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.
When did Section 14 of the Copyright Act come into force?
Section 14 of the Copyright Act, cited as Copyright Act 14, came into force on 21 Jan 1958, having been enacted on 04 Jun 1957. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.