Section 32B of the Copyright Act 1957 - Termination of Licences Issued Under Chapter VI
Section 32B of the Copyright Act, 1957 provides for termination of certain licences granted under Chapter VI when the copyright owner, or a person authorised by the owner, subsequently makes a substantially similar translation, reproduction, or edition available in the same language at a price reasonably related to comparable works in India.
Updated: 21 September 2026
What Section 32B means
Chapter VI of the Copyright Act deals with licences. Section 32 concerns licences to produce and publish translations, while Section 32A concerns licences to reproduce and publish works for certain purposes. Section 32B sets out when licences of the kinds specified in the section terminate after the rights owner or an authorised person begins supplying a comparable version in the relevant language and at the price standard stated in the provision.
Section 32B(1): licence for translation under Section 32
Sub-section (1) applies after a licence has been granted to produce and publish a translation under Section 32(1A). The statutory conditions focus on publication by the copyright owner or an authorised person of a translation in the same language, substantially the same content, and at a price reasonably related to the price normally charged in India for translations of works of the same standard on the same or a similar subject.
Effect of termination under sub-section (1)
The licence is subject to termination when the statutory conditions are satisfied. The termination takes effect only after three months from service of notice in the prescribed manner on the licensee by the owner of the right of translation.
Copies of the licensed work produced and published before termination takes effect may continue to be sold or distributed until those copies are exhausted.
Section 32B(2): licence under Section 32A
Sub-section (2) deals with a licence to produce and publish a reproduction or translation under Section 32A. It applies where the owner of the right of reproduction, or an authorised person, sells or distributes copies of the work or its translation in the same language, substantially the same in content, at a price reasonably related to the price normally charged in India for works of the same standard on the same or a similar subject.
Notice and existing copies
The termination takes effect only after three months from service of the prescribed notice on the licensee by the owner of the right of reproduction, intimating the relevant sale or distribution.
Copies already reproduced by the licensee before termination takes effect may continue to be sold or distributed until the copies already produced are exhausted.
Key requirements under Section 32B
- There must already be a licence of the kind referred to in Section 32B(1) or Section 32B(2).
- The copyright owner, relevant rights owner, or an authorised person must subsequently publish, sell, or distribute the corresponding work or translation as specified in the applicable sub-section.
- The version must be in the same language and substantially the same in content.
- The price must satisfy the statutory comparison with prices normally charged in India for works or translations of the same standard on the same or a similar subject.
- The prescribed notice must be served, and three months must expire before termination takes effect.
- Existing copies produced before termination may continue to be sold or distributed until exhausted.
Statutory history
Section 32B was inserted by the Copyright (Amendment) Act, 1983 (Act 23 of 1983), with effect from 9 August 1984. The provision forms part of Chapter VI of the Copyright Act, 1957.
Official legal resources
For the current statutory text, refer to the Copyright Act, 1957 on India Code. The Copyright Office copy of the Copyright Act, 1957 also contains Section 32B. For rules, forms, notices, and Copyright Office services, see the Copyright Office, Government of India.