Coding key: C = Copyright Act, 1957 T = Trade Marks Act, 1999 P = Patents Act, 1970 G = GI of Goods Act, 1999
e.g.
C59 = Section 59 of the Copyright Act. Sub-clauses noted in brackets, e.g. T9(1).📘 Copyright Act, 1957
| Code | Section Title | Explanation |
| C13 | Works in which copyright subsists | Lists categories protected: literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings. |
| C14 | Meaning of copyright | Defines the bundle of exclusive rights — to reproduce, issue copies, perform in public, communicate, translate, adapt the work. |
| C17 | First owner of copyright | Author is generally first owner; exceptions — employer (work made under contract of service), person commissioning a photograph/painting for valuable consideration. |
| C18 | Assignment of copyright | Owner may assign copyright, wholly or partially, present or future works, to any person. |
| C19 | Mode of assignment | Assignment valid only if in writing, signed by assignor; if duration/territory not specified, defaults to 5 years and India respectively; reverts if unexploited within 1 year. |
| C21 | Relinquishment of copyright | Author may relinquish all/any rights by giving public notice; work then enters the public domain. |
| C30 | Licences | Owner may grant licences (exclusive/non-exclusive) by written instrument signed by them or their authorised agent. |
| C31 | Compulsory licence in withheld works | Copyright Board/IPD may direct a compulsory licence if the owner unreasonably refuses to republish or allow public performance. |
| C31D | Statutory licence for broadcasting | Allows radio/TV broadcasters to use published literary/musical works & sound recordings on payment of fixed royalty rates. |
| C50 | Rectification of Register | Power to correct/rectify entries in the Register of Copyrights on grounds of error or absence of sufficient cause. |
| C51 | When copyright is infringed | Defines infringing acts — unauthorised reproduction, sale, public performance, or import of infringing copies. |
| C52 | Acts not constituting infringement | Fair dealing exceptions — private use, criticism/review, news reporting (52(1)(a)); reproduction by teacher/pupil in course of instruction (52(1)(i)). |
| C55 | Civil remedies for infringement | Injunction, damages, account of profits, delivery-up of infringing copies. |
| C57 | Author's special (moral) rights | Right of paternity (be identified as author) and right of integrity (object to distortion/mutilation) — survive even after assignment. |
| C63 | Offence of infringement | Criminal penalty — imprisonment from 6 months to 3 years + fine ₹50,000 to ₹2,00,000. |
| C64 | Power of police to seize copies | Police may seize infringing copies without warrant once a case is registered. |
📗 Trade Marks Act, 1999
| Code | Section Title | Explanation |
| T2(1)(zb) | Definition of "trade mark" | A mark capable of graphical representation, distinguishing one person's goods/services from another's. |
| T2(1)(h) | Definition of "deceptive similarity" | A mark so nearly resembling another that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion in the mind of an average buyer. |
| T2(1)(zg) | Definition of "well-known trade mark" | A mark recognised by a substantial segment of the public, entitled to protection even against dissimilar goods/services. |
| T9 | Absolute grounds for refusal | Marks devoid of distinctiveness, purely descriptive, customary in trade, deceptive, or hurting religious sentiment cannot be registered. |
| T11 | Relative grounds for refusal | Refusal where the mark conflicts with an earlier registered/well-known mark, likely to cause public confusion. |
| T18 | Application for registration | Any person claiming proprietorship may apply in writing to the Registrar in the prescribed manner. |
| T21 | Opposition to registration | Any person may oppose within 4 months of publication in the Trade Marks Journal. |
| T25 | Duration & renewal | Registration is valid for 10 years from the date of filing, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year terms. |
| T27 | No infringement action for unregistered marks (passing off saved) | Bars an infringement suit for an unregistered mark, but expressly preserves the common-law right to sue for passing off. |
| T28 | Rights conferred by registration | Gives the registered proprietor the exclusive right to use the mark for the goods/services it is registered for. |
| T29 | Infringement of registered trade marks | Statutory remedy — unauthorised use of an identical/deceptively similar mark on identical/similar goods amounts to infringement; no need to prove actual loss. |
| T47 | Removal for non-use | Mark may be removed from the Register if not used continuously for 5 years and 3 months from the date of registration. |
| T57 | Power to cancel/vary registration | Registrar/Appellate Board (now IPD) may cancel or vary entries on grounds of error or contravention of the Act. |
| T134 | Suit for infringement — jurisdiction | Infringement and passing-off suits must be instituted in a District Court (not below) having jurisdiction. |
| T135 | Reliefs in suits | Court may grant injunction, damages or account of profits, and delivery-up of infringing labels/marks. |
📙 Patents Act, 1970
| Code | Section Title | Explanation |
| P3 | What are not inventions | Lists non-patentable subject matter: 3(d) new forms of known substances lacking enhanced therapeutic efficacy; 3(h) agriculture/horticulture methods; 3(k) computer programs per se & business methods; 3(p) traditional knowledge. |
| P4 | Inventions relating to atomic energy | Absolute bar on patenting atomic-energy inventions, on national security grounds. |
| P10 | Contents of specification | Prescribes what a provisional/complete specification must disclose — description, claims, drawings, abstract. |
| P11A | Publication of application | Application is published in the Official Journal ordinarily 18 months after filing/priority date. |
| P11B | Request for examination (RFE) | Must be filed within 48 months of priority/filing date, else the application is treated as withdrawn. |
| P25 | Opposition to grant | 25(1) pre-grant and 25(2) post-grant opposition on grounds like prior publication, obviousness, wrongful obtaining, insufficient disclosure. |
| P48 | Rights of patentees | Exclusive right to make, use, sell, offer for sale, and import the patented invention in India. |
| P53 | Term of patent | 20 years from the date of filing of the complete specification. |
| P64 | Revocation of patents | Grounds on which a patent may be revoked by the Appellate Board (now IPD) or in a counter-claim to infringement. |
| P84 | Compulsory licences | May be granted after 3 years if reasonable requirements of the public are not satisfied, patented product not affordable, or invention not "worked" in India. |
| P104 | Jurisdiction in infringement suits | Suit to be instituted in a District Court not lower, subject to pecuniary jurisdiction. |
| P108 | Reliefs in suits for infringement | Court may grant injunction and, at the plaintiff's option, either damages or an account of profits. |
📕 GI of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999
| Code | Section Title | Explanation |
| G2(1)(e) | Definition of "geographical indication" | An indication identifying goods as originating in a territory/region where a given quality/reputation is essentially attributable to that origin. |
| G11 | Application for registration | Any association of persons/producers representing the interest of producers can apply to the GI Registry, Chennai. |
| G18 | Duration & renewal of registration | Valid for 10 years, renewable indefinitely for further 10-year periods. |
| G21 | Effect of registration | Gives the registered proprietor and authorised users the exclusive right to use the GI; infringement actions can be brought. |
| G22 | Prohibition on registering GI as trademark | Bars registration of an identical/similar GI as a trademark if it would mislead the public as to true origin. |
| G24 | Non-assignability | A registered GI is a collective/community right — cannot be assigned, transmitted, licensed, pledged or mortgaged like ordinary property. |
📝 Exam tip: Examiners give marks for citing the correct numeral over the act name — open every answer with the section number, then explain in 1–2 lines before going into detail.