Sections 49 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
These three sections deal with errors and challenges to the Register of Copyrights. Section 49 lets the Registrar correct clerical errors. Section 50 gives the power to order rectification (adding, removing or correcting entries) to the High Court, after the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 replaced the Appellate Board. Section 50A requires entries, corrections and rectifications to be published. If you must challenge or defend an entry, an objection reply prepared early helps.
Section 49: the Registrar may, in prescribed cases and on prescribed conditions, correct an error in a name, address or particulars, or an error arising by accidental slip or omission. Section 50: the High Court, on application of the Registrar or any person aggrieved, shall order rectification by making an omitted entry, expunging a wrongly made entry, or correcting an error or defect. Section 50A: every entry, correction and rectification is published in the Official Gazette or as the Registrar thinks fit.
Section 49: correction by the Registrar
"The Registrar of Copyrights may, in the prescribed cases and subject to the prescribed conditions, amend or alter the Register of Copyrights by— (a) correcting any error in any name, address or particulars; or (b) correcting any other error which may have arisen therein by accidental slip or omission."
| Feature | Text |
|---|---|
| Who acts | The Registrar of Copyrights |
| When | "In the prescribed cases and subject to the prescribed conditions" |
| What may be corrected | Error in name, address or particulars; any other error from accidental slip or omission |
The section is limited to error. It does not let the Registrar remove an entry because the applicant was not the owner; that is a matter for section 50. Rule 71(1) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 allows the Registrar to act either on his own or on application of an interested person, and, where practicable, to give the affected person a chance to show cause. This article names no fee.
Section 50: rectification by the High Court
The wording after the 2021 Act
The printed text says: "The , on application of the Registrar of Copyrights or of any person aggrieved, shall order the rectification of the Register of Copyrights by—". The Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 (clause (f) of its Chapter V amendments) substitutes the words "High Court" for "Appellate Board" wherever they occur in section 50. The current wording is therefore: "The High Court, on application of the Registrar of Copyrights or of any person aggrieved, shall order the rectification of the Register of Copyrights by—".
Before the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 this read "Appellate Board". A footnote in the text adds that "Appellate Board" had itself been substituted for "Copyright Board" by Act 7 of 2017 (w.e.f. 26-5-2017).
Grounds for rectification
The High Court's order may be made by:
| Clause | Ground |
|---|---|
| (a) | Making any entry wrongly omitted to be made in the register |
| (b) | Expunging any entry wrongly made in, or remaining on, the register |
| (c) | Correcting any error or defect in the register |
Who can apply: the Registrar, or "any person aggrieved". The text does not define "person aggrieved" or set a time limit. Rule 71(2) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 provides for the Registrar to rectify entries after an order is passed on such an application; it still uses the word "Board" because the Rules as notified pre-date the 2021 Act.
The word is "shall": once rectification is ordered under the section, the order is mandatory in form. The section does not say what procedure the High Court follows; that is for the High Court's own rules. Note also that under the 2021 amendment, "prescribed" in relation to proceedings before a High Court means prescribed by rules made by the High Court.
Example. Naveen Gupta finds that a rival, Sapna Traders, has entered his original poster as its own work. He applies to the High Court as a person aggrieved, asking it to expunge the entry under clause (b). If the court orders rectification, the Registrar publishes it under section 50A. Compare a mere typing slip in the address, which the Registrar can correct under section 49.
Section 50A: publication
Section 50A was inserted by Act 23 of 1983 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984). It says that:
- every entry made in the Register, or the particulars of any work entered under section 45;
- the correction of every entry made under section 49; and
- every rectification ordered under section 50,
"shall be published by the Registrar of Copyrights in the Official Gazette or in such other manner as he may deem fit."
Section 49 against section 50
| Section 49 | Section 50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | Registrar of Copyrights | High Court (after the 2021 Act) |
| Trigger | Prescribed cases; error | Application of Registrar or person aggrieved |
| Scope | Name, address, particulars, accidental slip or omission | Omitted entry, wrongly made entry, error or defect |
| Outcome | Amendment or alteration | Order of rectification |
| Published under | 50A | 50A |
For how an entry is made, see sections 44 and 45; for the evidentiary value of an entry that stands, see section 48. Appeals against the Registrar's orders are covered in section 72.
Need help with an objection or a rectification?
If an entry in the Register affects your work, we can help you decide between a correction request and a rectification application and prepare the papers. Our objection reply service is a good starting point.
Key takeaways
- Section 49 is for errors; the Registrar may amend in prescribed cases on prescribed conditions.
- Section 50 now names the High Court; before the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 it read "Appellate Board".
- The Registrar or any person aggrieved may apply for rectification.
- Three grounds: omitted entry, wrongly made entry, error or defect.
- Section 50A requires publication of entries, corrections and rectifications.
Read next
- Sections 44–45: Register of Copyrights and entries
- Sections 46–48: indexes, inspection and prima facie evidence
- Sections 71–73: appeals against Magistrate and Registrar orders
- How to cancel or surrender a copyright registration
Disclaimer: Based on the Copyright Act, 1957 as amended up to 2012, read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Acts of 2023 and 2026, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Forms, fees and procedure are set by the Copyright Rules, 2013 as amended from time to time. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.