Functions of the Copyright Board :

The main functions of the Copyright Board are as under:

1. Settlement of disputes as to whether copies of any literary, dramatic or artistic work or records are issued to the public in sufficient numbers.

2. Settlement of disputes as to whether the term of copyright for any work is shorter in any other country than that provided for that work under the Act.

3. Settlement of disputes with respect to assignment of copyright as dealt with in Section 19A.

4. Granting of compulsory licences in respect of Indian works withheld from public.

5. Granting of compulsory licence to publish unpublished Indian works.

6. Granting of compulsory licence to produce and publish translation of literary and dramatic works.

7. Granting of compulsory licence to reproduce and publish literary, scientific or artistic works for certain purposes.

8. Determination of royalties payable to the owner of copyright.

9. Determination of objection lodged by any person as to the fees charged by Performing Rights Societies.

10. Rectification of Register on the application of the Registrar of Copyright or of any person aggrieved.

The Copyright Board has no powers to limit the user of copyright to any particular territorial area. The appeal against orders passed by the Copyright Board except under Section 6 lies to the High Court within whose jurisdiction the appellant resides or carries on business.

The scope of the powers of the Copyright Board has been explained in the case of Shri Urmila Charan Gupta v. Shri Charushila Sharan Gupta and Sumitra Nandand Gupta 1983 PTC 84. In this case it has been held that if the Board, in its powers, thinks fit or agrees to dispose of the matter of all the 38 books on a single application, no one else is given the right to question its propriety.