Question:medium

What are the classes of works for which copyrights protection is available in India?

Updated On: Jul 13, 2026
  • Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works
  • Cinematograph films
  • Sound recordings
  • All the above
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Copyright protection in India is not limited to books and paintings. Section 13(1) of the Copyright Act, 1957 spreads protection across three separate categories of subject matter, and this question is testing whether all three are recognised together.

  1. Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works: protected under Section 13(1)(a), this is the traditional core of copyright, covering novels, plays, song lyrics and compositions, and paintings or sculptures.
  2. Cinematograph films: protected under Section 13(1)(b) as its own class of work, separate from the screenplay or music used in making the film.
  3. Sound recordings: protected under Section 13(1)(c), again as an independent work, separate from any composition or lyrics recorded.
  4. All the above: since the statute lists all three as protected classes in the same subsection, none of them can be excluded from the answer.

Let's summarize:

  • Section 13(1)(a): literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works.
  • Section 13(1)(b): cinematograph films.
  • Section 13(1)(c): sound recordings.

Because the Act protects all three classes, the correct answer is All the above.

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