Copyright Registration in India

What is Copyright Registration (Copyright Office, India)?

Copyright is a bundle of rights that the Copyright Act, 1957 gives to creators of literary works (including computer programmes), dramatic, musical and artistic works, and to producers of cinematograph films and sound recordings. It includes the rights to reproduce, communicate to the public, adapt and translate the work. Copyright arises automatically when an original work is created, so registration is not mandatory. However, the certificate and the entries in the Register of Copyrights are prima facie evidence of ownership in court. Applications are made in Form XIV with the fee in the Second Schedule, one work per application. The Copyright Office, now part of the CGPDTM (IP India), handles registration.

Who should apply

• Software developers, SaaS and app companies (source code)
• Businesses wanting to protect logos, labels and packaging artwork
• Authors, writers, bloggers and publishers
• Musicians, composers, lyricists and music labels
• Filmmakers, YouTubers, ad agencies and production houses
• Designers, artists, photographers and architects
• Educational content creators and course publishers

Benefits

Works that can be registered

Documents required

• Form XIV with Statement of Particulars (SoP) and Statement of Further Particulars (SoFP), signed by the applicant only
• Name, address and nationality of the applicant and of each author. A firm cannot itself be the author, so the details of the actual creator are required.
• Copies of the work: two copies of an unpublished work. Artistic work in PDF/JPG, sound recording in MP3, literary/dramatic/musical/software in PDF under 10 MB. For cinematograph works, 2 copies on CD or pen drive to the Copyright Office.
• Software: at least the first 10 and last 10 pages of source code (or all of it if under 20 pages), with nothing blocked out or redacted
• No Objection Certificate from the author(s) if the applicant is not the author
• NOC from the publisher if the work was published by someone other than the applicant
• NOC from any person whose photograph appears in the work
• Artistic work used or capable of use on goods/services (e.g. a logo): a Search Certificate (TM-C) from the Registrar of Trade Marks, plus two identical copies of the artwork matching the search certificate
• Artistic work capable of design registration: an affidavit that it is not registered under the Designs Act, 2000 and has not been applied to an article by an industrial process and reproduced more than 50 times
• Power of Attorney, if an advocate or agent files on the applicant's behalf
• Details of publication (year, country, publisher), if published

How we get it done

1. 1
   Consultation: we identify the work type, author and owner, and whether it is published, and advise on NOCs or assignment deeds.
2. 2
   For logos: we first file a TM-C search certificate request with the Trade Marks Registry.
3. 3
   Drafting: we prepare Form XIV, the SoP and SoFP, the NOCs, POA and any affidavits.
4. 4
   E-filing: we file online on the Copyright Office e-filing system, upload the work and documents, and you pay the official fee. A Diary Number is generated.
5. 5
   Notice: the applicant must give notice (copies of Form XIV, SoP and SoFP by registered post) to every person who claims an interest in, or may dispute, the copyright.
6. 6
   Mandatory 30-day waiting period: the Registrar waits 30 days for objections before examining the application.
7. 7
   Examination: if there is a discrepancy, we file the reply to the discrepancy letter. If there is an objection, the Registrar holds a hearing, where we represent you.
8. 8
   Registration: the entries are made in the Register of Copyrights and the signed Extract (registration certificate) is issued.

Typical timeline: 30-day mandatory waiting period for objections after filing (Copyright Rules 2013, per the IP India 'Basic of Copyright' page). After that, examination and the certificate typically take a few months if there are no discrepancies, and longer if there is an objection or discrepancy letter. The Copyright Office does not publish an official end-to-end timeline, so this realistic range is not an official figure.

Fees

Official copyright fees are per work, from the IP India copyright 'Forms & Official Fees' page (Second Schedule, Copyright Rules 2013), accessed 2026-09-28. Fees can be paid online, or offline by postal order or DD to 'Registrar of Copyrights, New Delhi'. For a logo, budget Rs 2,000 (copyright) + Rs 9,000 (TM-C search certificate, e-filing) in official fees. Note: copyright.gov.in now redirects to ipindia.gov.in. Some copyright.gov.in sub-pages (status and journals) still work. Government fees are paid to the authority at actuals, over and above our fee. Fees last checked: 28 Sep 2026 (official sources).

Frequently asked questions