Copyright Infringement Remedies in India - citizen guide 2026

Someone is selling your photographs, reprinting your book, or running your software without permission. You do not need a registration certificate to act. Copyright in India exists the moment you create the work, and the Copyright Act gives you two parallel routes against the infringer: a civil suit for an injunction and damages, and a criminal complaint that can lead to jail.

Infringement is the use of someone's protected work without permission or licence, in a way only the copyright owner is allowed to do. This includes copying, reproducing, publishing, selling, or communicating the work to the public. It covers books, music, films, photographs, paintings, software code, and other original creative works for the life of the author plus sixty years.

The governing law is the Copyright Act 1957. Copyright arises automatically on creation, so registration is not a precondition to sue. The Act gives you two enforcement routes that you can use together:

1. Civil remedies under Section 55: the copyright owner can seek an injunction to stop the infringement, damages for the loss caused, and an account of the profits the infringer made. The court can also order delivery up of the infringing copies.
2. Criminal remedies under Section 63: knowingly infringing copyright is an offence punishable with imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. The police can register and investigate this, as the Supreme Court has held the offence to be cognizable.

Where you file the civil suit: Section 62 lets you institute the suit in the district court within whose limits you, the plaintiff, reside or carry on business. This is a deliberate convenience, so you are not forced to chase the infringer to a distant court.

Time limit: A civil suit for infringement should normally be filed within three years of the infringing act under the Limitation Act 1963, and a fresh limitation runs for each continuing act of infringement.

RTI angle: Where the infringer is a government department, a public sector undertaking, or a body funded by the State that is using your work, an RTI can confirm the use and obtain the relevant tender, purchase, or publication file. That record becomes direct proof of unauthorised use for your notice or suit. You can also obtain your own application file from the Copyright Office through an RTI if a registration is pending.

1. Gather proof that you are the author or owner: drafts, dated files, contracts, or a copyright registration if you have one.
2. Collect evidence of the infringement: copies, screenshots, listings, dated purchases, and the infringer's details.
3. Send a cease and desist legal notice demanding that the infringer stop, withdraw copies, and pay for the use.
4. If the use continues, file a civil suit under Section 55 in the district court where you reside or work, seeking an injunction, damages, and account of profits.
5. For deliberate commercial piracy, also file a criminal complaint under Section 63 with the police, who can seize infringing copies.
6. Ask the court for an interim injunction early, so the infringement stops while the suit is pending.
7. Keep all originals and dated evidence safe, as ownership and date of creation are the core of your case.

• Proof of authorship or ownership: manuscripts, dated source files, agreements, or assignment deeds
• Copyright registration certificate, if you have obtained one
• Evidence of infringement: copies, screenshots, sale listings, invoices
• The cease and desist notice and proof of its delivery
• Identity and address details of the infringer
• Any licence or contract showing the limits of permitted use

• Thinking you must register first. Registration helps as evidence but is not required to sue under the Copyright Act.
• No dated proof of creation. Without drafts or dated files, proving you are the author becomes hard. Keep originals.
• Skipping the interim injunction. Without an early injunction the infringement continues for years while the suit drags. Ask for it at the start.
• Filing in the wrong court. Section 62 lets you sue where you reside or work. Do not assume you must go to the infringer's city.
• Sitting on your rights. Long delay weakens your claim and can raise limitation and acquiescence defences.

No. Copyright in India exists automatically once you create the work. Registration is useful evidence but is not a precondition to file a civil suit under Section 55 or a criminal complaint under Section 63.

Under Section 55 the court can grant an injunction to stop the infringement, award damages for your loss, order an account of the infringer's profits, and direct delivery up of the infringing copies.

Yes. Section 63 makes knowing infringement punishable with six months to three years imprisonment and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. The Supreme Court has held the offence to be cognizable, so police can act.

Section 62 allows you to sue in the district court within whose limits you reside or carry on business, which is often more convenient than the infringer's location.

Generally three years from the infringing act under the Limitation Act 1963. Each continuing act of infringement gives rise to a fresh period, but you should act promptly to protect your remedies.

Send a clear cease and desist legal notice setting out your ownership, the infringement, and your demands. Many disputes settle at this stage, and the notice also strengthens a later suit.

Yes. Computer programs and original online content are protected literary or artistic works under the Copyright Act, and the same civil and criminal remedies apply to their unauthorised use.

• Copyright Act 1957, Sections 55, 62 and 63 - https://www.indiacode.nic.in
• Copyright Office, Government of India - https://copyright.gov.in
• Limitation Act 1963 - https://www.indiacode.nic.in
• Right to Information Act 2005 - https://rti.gov.in

• Draft an RTI on a government body using your work
• File a first appeal if your RTI is ignored
• Raise your grievance with Awaaz RTI
• Read the RTI Act 2005 guide
• The RTI Playbook