OpenLegislation

Copyright Act 1956

Eliz2/4-5 c. 74 · Enacted 11 May 1956

Original text. legislation.gov.uk does not revise this item, so later amendments are not shown here. Changes made to it are listed under each provision when known.

An Act to make new provision in respect of copyright and related matters, in substitution for the provisions of the Copyright Act, 1911, and other enactments relating thereto; to amend the Registered Designs Act, 1949, with respect to designs related to artistic works in which copyright subsists, and to amend the Dramatic and Musical Performers' Protection Act, 1925; and for purposes connected with the matters aforesaid.

[5th November, 1956]

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

Contents

  1. Part I: Copyright in Original Works
  2. 1Nature of copyright under this Act
  3. 2Copyright in literary, dramatic and musical works
  4. 3Copyright in artistic works
  5. 4Ownership of copyright in literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
  6. 5Infringements by importation, sale and other dealings
  7. 6General exceptions from protection of literary, dramatic and musical works
  8. 7Special exceptions as respects libraries and archives
  9. 8Special exception in respect of records of musical works
  10. 9General exceptions from protection of artistic works
  11. 10Special exception in respect of industrial designs
  12. 11Provisions as to anonymous and pseudonymous works, and works of joint authorship
  13. Part II: Copyright in Sound Recordings, Cinematograph Films, Broadcasts, etc.
  14. 12Copyright in sound recordings
  15. 13Copyright in cinematograph films
  16. 14Copyright in television broadcasts and sound broadcasts
  17. 15Copyright in published editions of works
  18. 16Supplementary provisions for purposes of Part II
  19. Part III: Remedies for Infringements of Copyright
  20. 17Action by owner of copyright for infringement
  21. 18Rights of owner of copyright in respect of infringing copies, etc.
  22. 19Proceedings in case of copyright subject to exclusive licence
  23. 20Proof of facts in copyright actions
  24. 21Penalties and summary proceedings in respect of dealings which infringe copyright
  25. 22Provision for restricting importation of printed copies
  26. Part IV: Performing Right Tribunal
  27. 23Establishment of tribunal
  28. 24General provisions as to jurisdiction of tribunal
  29. 25Reference of licence schemes to tribunal
  30. 26Further reference of scheme to tribunal
  31. 27Applications to tribunal
  32. 28Exercise of jurisdiction of tribunal in relation to diffusion of foreign broadcasts
  33. 29Effect of orders of tribunal, and supplementary provisions relating thereto
  34. 30Reference of questions of law to the court
  35. Part V: Extension or Restriction of Operation of Act
  36. 31Extension of Act to Isle of Man, Channel Islands, colonies and dependencies
  37. 32Application of Act to countries to which it does not extend
  38. 33Provisions as to international organisations
  39. 34Extended application of provisions relating to broadcasts
  40. 35Denial of copyright to citizens of countries not giving: adequate protection to British works
  41. Part VI: Miscellaneous and Supplementary Provisions
  42. 36Assignments and licences in respect of copyright
  43. 37Prospective ownership of copyright
  44. 38Copyright to pass under will with unpublished work
  45. 39Provisions as to Crown and Government departments
  46. 40Broadcasts of sound recordings and cinematograph films, and diffusion of broadcast programmes
  47. 41Use of copyright material for education
  48. 42Special provisions as to public records
  49. 43False attribution of authorship
  50. 44Amendments of Registered Designs Act, 1949
  51. 45Amendment of Dramatic and Musical Performers' Protection Act, 1925
  52. 46Savings
  53. 47General provisions as to Orders in Council, regulations, rules and orders, and as to Board of Trade
  54. 48Interpretation
  55. 49Supplementary provisions as to interpretation
  56. 50Transitional provisions, and repeals
  57. 51Short title, commencement and extent
  58. Schedule FIRST: False Registration of Industrial Designs
  59. 1Paragraph 1
  60. 2Paragraph 2
  61. 3Paragraph 3
  62. 4Paragraph 4
  63. Schedule SECOND: Duration of Copyright in Anonymous and Pseudonymous Works
  64. 1Paragraph 1
  65. 2Paragraph 2
  66. 3Paragraph 3
  67. Schedule THIRD: Works of Joint Authorship
  68. 1Paragraph 1
  69. 2Paragraph 2
  70. 3Paragraph 3
  71. 4Paragraph 4
  72. 5Paragraph 5
  73. 6Paragraph 6
  74. Schedule FOURTH: Provisions as to Performing Right Tribunal
  75. 1Paragraph 1
  76. 2Paragraph 2
  77. 3Paragraph 3
  78. 4Paragraph 4
  79. 5Paragraph 5
  80. 6Paragraph 6
  81. 7Paragraph 7
  82. 8Paragraph 8
  83. Schedule FIFTH: Appointment of Television Copyright Organisations by British Broadcasting Corporation and Independent Television Authority
  84. 1Paragraph 1
  85. 2Paragraph 2
  86. 3Paragraph 3
  87. 4Paragraph 4
  88. 5Paragraph 5
  89. 6Paragraph 6
  90. 7Paragraph 7
  91. Schedule SIXTH: Amendment of Dramatic and Musical Performers' Protection Act, 1925
  92. INew Sections 1A and 1B
  93. IINew Sections 3A and 3B
  94. IIIMinor and Consequential Amendments
  95. Schedule SEVENTH: Transitional Provisions
  96. Part I: Provisions relating to Part I of Act
  97. Conditions for subsistence of copyright
  98. 1Paragraph 1
  99. Duration of copyright
  100. 2Paragraph 2
  101. Ownership of copyright
  102. 3Paragraph 3
  103. Infringements of copyright
  104. 4Paragraph 4
  105. 5Paragraph 5
  106. 6Paragraph 6
  107. 7Paragraph 7
  108. 8Paragraph 8
  109. 9Paragraph 9
  110. Works of joint authorship
  111. 10Paragraph 10
  112. Part II: Provisions relating to Part II of Act
  113. Sound recordings
  114. 11Paragraph 11
  115. 12Paragraph 12
  116. 13Paragraph 13
  117. Cinematograph films
  118. 14Paragraph 14
  119. 15Paragraph 15
  120. 16Paragraph 16
  121. Television broadcasts and sound broadcasts
  122. 17Paragraph 17
  123. 18Paragraph 18
  124. Supplementary
  125. 19Paragraph 19
  126. Part III: Provisions relating to Part III of Act
  127. 20Paragraph 20
  128. 21Paragraph 21
  129. 22Paragraph 22
  130. 23Paragraph 23
  131. 24Paragraph 24
  132. Part IV: Provisions relating to Part IV of Act
  133. 25Paragraph 25
  134. 26Paragraph 26
  135. Part V: Provisions relating to Part V of Act
  136. 27Paragraph 27
  137. Part VI: Provisions relating to Part VI of Act
  138. Assignments, licences and bequests
  139. 28Paragraph 28
  140. 29Paragraph 29
  141. Crown and Government departments
  142. 30Paragraph 30
  143. 31Paragraph 31
  144. False attribution of authorship
  145. 32Paragraph 32
  146. Other provisions
  147. 33Paragraph 33
  148. Part VII: Works made before 1st July, 1912
  149. 34Paragraph 34
  150. 35Paragraph 35
  151. 36Paragraph 36
  152. 37Paragraph 37
  153. 38Paragraph 38
  154. Part VIII: General and Supplementary Provisions
  155. 39Paragraph 39
  156. 40Paragraph 40
  157. 41Paragraph 41
  158. 42Paragraph 42
  159. 43Paragraph 43
  160. 44Paragraph 44
  161. 45Paragraph 45
  162. 46Paragraph 46
  163. 47Paragraph 47
  164. Schedule EIGHTH: Provisions of Copyright Act, 1911, and Rules, referred to in Seventh Schedule
  165. 1Paragraph 1
  166. 2Paragraph 2
  167. 3Paragraph 3
  168. 4Paragraph 4
  169. 5Paragraph 5
  170. 6Paragraph 6
  171. 7Paragraph 7
  172. 8Paragraph 8
  173. 9Paragraph 9
  174. Schedule NINTHEnactments Repealed