(1) All articles, optical discs, things, books or documents seized in the exercise of any power conferred under this Act shall be liable to forfeiture.
(2) The court trying any person accused of an offence under this Act may at the conclusion of the trial, whether he is convicted or not, order that the articles, optical discs, things, books or documents seized from that person be destroyed or, in the case of infringing copies, be delivered up to the first owner of the copyright in question, or his assignee or exclusive licensee, as the case may be.
(3) Where there is no prosecution with regard to any article, optical disc, thing, book or document seized in exercise of any powers conferred under this Act, the article, optical disc, thing, book or document shall be taken and deemed to be forfeited at the expiration of one calendar month from the date it was seized unless a claim thereto is made before that date in the manner set out in subsection (4) , (5) and (6) .
(4) Any person asserting that he is the owner of any article, optical disc, thing, book or document seized under this Act and that the article, optical disc, thing, book or document is not liable to forfeiture may personally or by his agent authorised in writing by him give written notice to an Assistant Controller of his claim.
(5) On receipt of a notice under subsection (4) , the Assistant Controller shall refer the notice to the Controller who may, after such enquiry as may be necessary, direct that such article, optical disc, thing, book or document be released or forfeited or refer the matter to the Court of a First Class Magistrate for decision.
(6) The court to which the matter is referred shall issue a summons requiring the person asserting that he is the owner of the article, optical disc, thing, book or document and the person from whom it was seized to appear before the court and upon their appearance or default to appear, due service of the summons being proved, the court shall proceed to the examination of the matter, and on proof that an offence under this Act has been committed and that such article, optical disc, thing, book or document, was the subject-matter or was used in the commission of such offence, shall order the article, optical disc, thing, book or document to be forfeited or may, in the absence of such proof, order the release of such article, optical disc, thing, book or document to the person entitled to it.
(7) Any article, optical disc, thing, book or document forfeited or deemed to be forfeited shall be delivered to the Controller who shall dispose of it in a manner he deems fit.