Question:medium

If the period of assignment copyright is not stated, it shall be deemed to be ____ years from the date of assignment.

Updated On: Jul 13, 2026
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Copyright assignment agreements are contracts, and like any contract they can leave gaps. Section 19 of the Copyright Act fills two common gaps: what territory the assignment covers if none is stated, and what period it runs for if none is stated. This question is about the second gap.

  1. 4: not the number used anywhere in Section 19.
  2. 5: Section 19(5) says that when an assignment deed does not mention a period, the law treats it as running for five years from the date of the assignment. This default protects the assignor from an indefinite, open ended transfer.
  3. 6: does not match the statutory figure.
  4. 7: also does not match the statutory figure.

Let's summarize:

  • Section 19(5) of the Copyright Act supplies a default assignment period of five years when the deed is silent.
  • Section 19(6) similarly supplies a default territory of the whole of India when the deed does not specify one.

The deemed period, when none is stated, is 5 years.

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