Most Indian authors believe one of five myths about book copyright: automatic protection is enough, the publisher will handle it, nobody will steal their work, registration is too expensive, or their copyright only works in India. All five are wrong — and this guide explains exactly why, with the Copyright Act, 1957 provisions that matter most to authors.

A copyright assignment transfers economic rights the right to reproduce, distribute, licence, and profit from a work. It does not transfer moral rights. Under Section 57 of the Copyright Act, 1957, every Indian author retains two rights that cannot be assigned, waived, or contracted away: the right to claim authorship, and the right to restrain or claim damages for any distortion or modification of their work that would be prejudicial to their honour or reputation. This guide explains both rights, their legal limits, and what happens after an author dies.