Section 50A of the Copyright Act, 1957: Publication of Entries in the Register of Copyrights
Section 50A requires specified entries and changes relating to the Register of Copyrights to be published by the Registrar of Copyrights. The provision promotes public notice and transparency in the statutory copyright register.
What Section 50A provides
Every entry made in the Register of Copyrights, particulars of a work entered under Section 45, corrections made under Section 49, and rectifications ordered under Section 50 are to be published by the Registrar of Copyrights in the Official Gazette or in another manner considered appropriate by the Registrar.
Legislative note: Section 50A was inserted by Act 23 of 1983, section 17, with effect from 9 August 1984.
Meaning and scope of Section 50A
The section is a publication provision. It follows the registration, correction and rectification provisions in Chapter X of the Copyright Act, 1957 and requires the resulting register information to be made public in the prescribed statutory manner.
Section 45 - Entries relating to copyright registration
Section 45 of the Copyright Act, 1957 deals with entries in the Register of Copyrights following an application for registration. Section 50A expressly includes particulars of works entered under Section 45 within the information to be published.
Section 49 - Correction of entries
Section 49 authorises the Registrar of Copyrights, in the cases and subject to the conditions prescribed, to amend or alter the Register by correcting errors in names, addresses or particulars and errors arising from accidental slips or omissions. A correction made under Section 49 falls within Section 50A's publication requirement.
Section 50 - Rectification of the Register
Section 50 concerns rectification of the Register, including making an entry wrongly omitted, expunging an entry wrongly made or remaining on the Register, and correcting an error or defect. Section 50A requires a rectification ordered under Section 50 to be published.
How publication may be made
Section 50A permits publication in the Official Gazette or in such other manner as the Registrar of Copyrights considers fit. The Copyright Office also provides public-facing online services, including an E-Register, application status facilities, notices and Copyright Journals.
Why Section 50A matters
Publication makes relevant register entries and subsequent changes accessible to the public. It helps users of the copyright registration system identify recorded particulars and become aware of corrections or rectifications affecting the Register. Section 50A should therefore be read together with Sections 45, 49 and 50 rather than as a standalone registration procedure.
Official copyright resources
For the current statutory text, rules, registration services and public records, refer to the official Copyright Office resources listed in the sidebar. Users should verify the latest Act, Rules, notifications and Copyright Journal before relying on procedural information.