law: Copyright Act, 1957 
  31. Compulsory license in works with held from
  
  public- 
  (1) If at any time during the term of
  
  copyright in any Indian work which has been published or performed in public, a
  
  complaint is made to the Copyright Board that the owner of copyright in the
  
  work- 
  a. has refused to
  
  republish or allow the republication of the work or has refused to allow the
  
  performance in public of the work, and by reason of such refusal the work is
  
  with held from the public, or
  behest refused to
  
  allow communication to the public by [(Note: Subs. for
  
  "radio-diffusion" by Act 23 of 1983, S.2 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) broadcast]
  
  of such work or in the case of a [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii)
  
  (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound recording] the work recorded in such
  
  [(Note: Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound
  
  recording,] on terms which the complainant considers reasonable;
  The Copyright Board, after giving to the owner
  
  of the copyright in the work reasonably opportunity of being heard and after
  
  holding such inquiry, as it may deemed necessary. May, if it is satisfied that
  
  the grounds for such refusal are not reasonable, direct the Registrar of
  
  Copyrights to grant to the complainant a license to republish the work, perform
  
  the work in public or communicate the work to the public by [(Note: Subs.
  
  for "radio-diffusion" by Act 23 of 1983, S.2 (w.e.f. 9-8-1984)) broadcast],
  
  as the case may be, subject to payment to the owner of the copyright of such
  
  compensation and subject to such other terms and conditions as the Copyright
  
  Board may determine, and thereupon the Registrar of Copyrights shall grant the
  
  license of the complainant in accordance with the direction of the Copyright
  
  Board, on payment of such fees, as may be prescribed.
  Explanation -  In this sub section,
  
  the expression "Indian work" includes- 
  i. an artistic work, the author of which is a
  
  citizen of India, and
  ii. a cinematograph film or a [(Note:
  
  Subs. by Act 38 of 1994, S.2 (xii) (w.e.f. a date to be notified)) sound
  
  recording] made or manufactured in India.
  (2) Where two or more persons have made a complaint
  
  under sub section (1), the license shall be granted to the complainant who in
  
  the opinion of the Copyright Board would best serve the interests of the
  
  general public.