What is a copyright?
A copyright is ‘a person’s exclusive right to reproduce, publish, or sell his or her original work of authorship (as a literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, or architectural work)’. Thus, copyright safeguards the author over his/her creations so that their productivity and creativity cannot be infringed. A copyright is done once the work is created, however it is better to protect it.
In this article, I’ll be describing the process of obtaining copyright from the procedure, fees for different cases, timeline and Documents Required.
By the end of the articles, you’ll be familiar on how to apply for copyrights online.
Page Contents
Process of registration of copyright:
Step 1: Go to the website www.copyright.gov.in
Step 2: Create a User Id on the website
Step 3: Login by entering the User Id and Password
Step 4: Go to the Online Services and under e-filing of Applications, click on Online Registration of Copyright.
Step 5: The copyright application is divided into 4 steps such as Form XIV, Statement of Particulars, Statement of Further Particulars and Payment Details.
Step 6: Finish the Form XIV by entering the basic details of the applicant.
Step 7: Further, in Statement of Particulars following mandatory details are to be mentioned:
- Name, address and nationality of the applicant
- Signature of the applicant which shall be in jpg and jpeg format with file size less than 512 KB.
- Nature of the applicants interest in the copyright of the work
- Class of the work such as Literary/Dramatic, Artistic, Cinematographic Film, Sound Recording, Music or Computer Software.
- Title of the work
- Language of the work
- Name, address and nationality of the author and if the author is deceased, the date of his decease.
- Names and addresses and nationalities of the owners of the various rights comprising the copyright in the work and the extent of rights held by each, together with particulars of assignments and licenses, if any.
- If the work is an ‘Artistic work’ which is used or is capable of being used in relation to any goods or services, the application shall include a certificate from the registrar of trade marks in terms of the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 45 of the Copyright Act, 1957).
Step 8: Further, fill up the details in Statement of Further Particulars
Step 9: Proceed for payment through Demand Draft, IPO or e-Payment.
Note: Payment details are to be made in favor of Registrar of Copyrights, payable at New Delhi
Step 10: After successful submission of form diary number shall be generated.
Fee for Registration of Copyright
| Particulars | Fees |
| License to republish a Literary, Dramatic, Musical or Artistic work | Rs. 5,000/- per work |
| License to communicate any work to the public by Broadcast | Rs. 40,000/- per applicant |
| License to republish a Cinematograph Film | Rs. 15,000/- per work |
| License to republish a sound recording | Rs. 10,000/- per work |
| License to perform any work in public | Rs. 5,000/- per work |
| License to publish or communicate to the public the work or translation | Rs. 5,000/- per work |
| License to publish any work in any format useful for person with disability | Rs. 2,000/- per work |
| Application for a license to produce and publish a translation of a Literary or Dramatic work in any Language | Rs. 5,000/- per work |
| Application for registration or copyright in a Literary, Dramatic, Musical or Artistic work | Rs. 500/- per work |
| Application for registration or copyright in respect of a Literary or Artistic work which is used or is capable of being used in relation to any goods or services | Rs. 2,000/- per work |
| Application for change in particulars of copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights in respect of a Literary, Dramatic, Musical or Artistic work | Rs. 200/- per work |
| Application for change in particulars of copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights in respect of a Literary or Artistic work which is used or is capable of being used in relation to any goods or services | Rs. 1,000/- per work |
| Application for registration of Copyright in a Cinematograph Film | Rs. 5,000/- per work |
| Application for registration of change in particulars of copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights in respect of Cinematograph film | Rs. 2,000/- per work |
| Application for registration of copyright in a Sound Recording | Rs. 2,000/- per work |
| Application for registration of changes in particulars of copyright entered in the Register of Copyrights in respect of Sound Recording | Rs. 1,000/- per work |
| Taking extracts from the indexes | Rs. 500/- per work |
| Taking extracts from the Register of Copyrights | Rs. 500/- per work |
| A certified copy of an extract from the Register of Copyrights of the indexes | Rs. 500/- per copy |
| A certified copy of any other public document in the custody of the Register of Copyright or Secretary of the Copyright Board | Rs. 500/- per copy |
| Application for prevention of importation of infringing copies (Section 53) per place of entry | Rs. 1,200/- per work |
Period for Registration of Copyright:
The period of registration is as follows:
- Once an application is filed, you will receive a diary number.
- After receiving a dairy number, you have to mandatorily wait for a period of 30 days, to ensure that no objection is filed against your claim in the Copyright Office.
- If any objection is filed, hearing opportunity is given to both the parties, to decide whether to register the work or not.
- If no objection is filed the application is examined by the examiners.
- In case of discrepancy, 45 days period is given to the applicant to remove the application.
- Usually, if everything is smooth it takes a period of 3 to 4 months for registration.
Documents Required for Registration of Copyright:
In case of online application:
| Type of Work | Documents to be submitted online |
| Artistic | > Authorization from author
> Search Certificate from Trade Mark Office (TM -60) with their forwarding letter > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Cinematographic Films | > Authorization from author/publisher
> If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Music | > Authorization from author/publisher
> If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Literary/ Dramatic | > Authorization from author/publisher
> If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Sound Recording | > Authorization from author/publisher
> If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Software | > Authorization from author/publisher
> If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
In case of physical application:
| Type of Work | Documents to be submitted physically |
| Artistic | > 3 copies of work
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorisation from author > Search Certificate from Trade Mark Office (TM -60) > If the work is being used on goods or capable of being used on the goods. > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Cinematographic Films | > 3 copies of work
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorisation from author/ publisher > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Music | > 3 copies of work (Graphical Notes)
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorization from author/publisher > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Literary/ Dramatic | > 3 copies of work
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorization from author/publisher > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Sound Recording | > 3 copies of work
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorization from author/publisher > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
| Software | > 3 copies of work
> DD/ IPO of Rs. (as applicable) per work > Authorization from author/publisher > If the application is being filed through attorney, a specific Power of Attorney in original duly signed by the applicant and accepted by the attorney |
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