📖 Simple Explanation

When an author writes a book, composes music, creates a play, or makes an artwork, the copyright protection lasts for the lifetime of the author plus 60 years after their death. This means:

• During Author's Life: The author enjoys full copyright protection
• After Death: The copyright continues for 60 more years from the beginning of the calendar year following the author's death
• Beneficiaries: After the author's death, their heirs or legal representatives hold the copyright

📖 Simple Explanation

Sometimes authors don't reveal their real names. They either:

• Anonymous Works: No author name given at all (like "Written by Unknown")
• Pseudonymous Works: Fake name used (like "Mark Twain" was a pen name for Samuel Clemens)

For such works, copyright lasts for 60 years from the year of publication because we cannot calculate from the author's death if we don't know who they are!

Exception: If the author's identity becomes known before the 60 years expire, then the normal rule applies (lifetime + 60 years).

📖 Simple Explanation

"Posthumous" means "after death." Sometimes an author creates a work but dies before publishing it. When such works are published after the author's death, special rules apply:

• Literary, Dramatic, Musical Works: 60 years from the year of publication (not from author's death)
• Engravings and Photographs: 60 years from the year of publication

This rule ensures that even works published long after an author's death get reasonable protection.

📖 Simple Explanation

Photographs have their own special rule! The copyright in a photograph lasts for 60 years from the year of publication.

Important Points:

• The term is calculated from publication, not from the photographer's death
• This applies to all photographs — artistic, commercial, personal, etc.
• If a photograph is not published, copyright lasts from the year it was taken

Note: After the 2012 Amendment, photographs of artistic works are treated like other artistic works (lifetime + 60 years). But standalone photographs still follow this rule.

📖 Simple Explanation

Movies (cinematograph films) get copyright protection for 60 years from the year of publication (release).

Key Points:

• Cinematograph Film: Includes movies, documentaries, TV shows, and any visual recording
• Publication: Usually means theatrical release or broadcast
• Owner: The producer is typically the first owner of copyright in films
• Underlying Works: Note that songs, scripts, etc. in the film have their own separate copyright terms

📖 Simple Explanation

Sound recordings (audio recordings of any sounds) get copyright protection for 60 years from the year of publication.

What is a Sound Recording?

• Recording of music performances
• Audiobooks
• Podcasts and radio programs
• Any recording of sounds, regardless of the medium (vinyl, CD, digital)

Important: The sound recording copyright is separate from the copyright in the underlying musical composition. A song has two copyrights: (1) the composition (lyrics + music) and (2) the recording of that composition.

📖 Simple Explanation

When the Government of India creates or publishes a work, the copyright belongs to the Government. Such works get protection for 60 years from the year of first publication.

Types of Government Works:

• Government reports and publications
• Official documents and circulars
• Maps created by Survey of India
• Educational materials published by government bodies
• Legislative and judicial documents

Note: Judgments of courts and legislative materials are generally not protected by copyright to ensure public access to law.

📖 Simple Explanation

Public undertakings are government-owned companies or bodies controlled by the government (like ONGC, Indian Railways, State Electricity Boards, etc.). When they create works, the copyright lasts for 60 years from the year of first publication.

What is a Public Undertaking?

• A company owned or controlled by the Central or State Government
• A corporation established by law and controlled by Government
• Examples: BHEL, NTPC, State Road Transport Corporations

This section ensures that works created by quasi-government entities get the same treatment as pure government works.

📖 Simple Explanation

International organisations like the United Nations, WHO, UNESCO, World Bank, etc. also create many valuable works. When India recognizes such an organisation, works published by them get copyright protection for 60 years from the year of first publication.

Which Organisations are Covered?

• United Nations and its agencies (WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF, etc.)
• Specialised agencies like IMF, World Bank
• Other international bodies notified by the Government

The Central Government has the power to declare which international organisations get this protection through notification in the Official Gazette.