In the digital age, content theft is rampant. While the Copyright Act, 1957 grants you automatic protection the moment you create an original work, enforcing that right without a registration certificate is an uphill battle.
A Copyright Registration Certificate serves as prima facie evidence of ownership in a court of law. It shifts the burden of proof onto the infringer. Without it, you must first prove that you are the original creator, which can be legally complex and expensive. Registration is the legal bedrock upon which you can build licensing deals, sell your distribution rights, and claim royalties from aggregators (like Spotify, Netflix, or publishers).
"A registered copyright is an intangible asset that can be valued, sold, or franchised. It turns your 'art' into 'property'."
The Copyright Act is broad and covers almost every form of creative expression. It is not limited to just books or music. Below is a detailed breakdown of what we can protect for you:
This is the most common category. It includes any work that is written or expressed in words, numbers, or other symbols.
"Musical Work" refers to the melody and harmony (the composition itself), separate from the lyrics or the recording.
Visual creations fall under this category. It does not need to be "fine art" to be protected; it just needs to be original.
Any work of visual recording. The producer of the film is typically considered the author/owner.
The specific recorded version of a song, speech, or podcast. This is separate from the underlying music or script.
Owning a copyright is not a single right; it is a bundle of rights. Under Section 14 of the Copyright Act, you get:
These rights allow you to monetize your work:
These rights protect the author's reputation, even if they sell the copyright!
In India, Computer Software is protected as a "Literary Work". This is crucial for Tech Startups and SaaS companies. Patents for software are hard to get (due to Section 3(k)), making **Copyright the primary protection** for code in India.
It includes Source Code (human-readable), Object Code (machine-readable), and even the user manuals.
No. To protect your trade secrets, you are only required to submit the First 10 pages and Last 10 pages of your source code. You can redact sensitive algorithms in the middle. This is enough to establish your unique codebase without exposing your entire IP.
The official government fees for copyright filing are quite affordable, making it accessible for individual creators.
| Category of Work | Govt Fee (Per Work) |
|---|---|
| Literary, Dramatic, Musical, or Artistic Works | ₹500 |
| Artistic Work used for Goods (Logos/Labels) | ₹2,000 |
| Software / Computer Programs | ₹2,000 |
| Sound Recordings | ₹2,000 |
| Cinematograph Films | ₹5,000 |
* Fees are subject to change. Professional filing fees are separate.
We file the application online with the Copyright Office, submitting the details of the author/owner and the nature of the work along with fees.
A "Diary Number" is generated immediately. The law mandates a 30-day waiting period to allow anyone to file objections (if any).
If no objections are received, the Examiner reviews the work. If there are discrepancies, a "Discrepancy Letter" is issued, which we must reply to.
Once approved, the Registrar enters the details in the Register of Copyrights (ROC) and issues the Certificate/Extract. You are now the legal owner!
As an individual artist or musician, it is impossible to track every time your song is played on the radio or in a restaurant. This is where **Copyright Societies** come in. They are collective administration bodies registered under Section 33 of the Act.
Collects royalties for Composers, Lyricists, and Publishers when their music is performed publicly (concerts, radio, TV, restaurants).
Collects royalties specifically for Singers/Performers. If you cover a song or perform your own, ISRA ensures you get paid your fair share.
Note: Registering your work with the Copyright Office is a often a prerequisite or strong aid for registering with these societies.
Missing a single document can lead to an objection or discrepancy. Here is the complete checklist:
For Literary, Dramatic, Musical, and Artistic Works. The 60-year count begins from the year following the author's death. This ensures your heirs benefit from your work.
For Cinematograph Films, Sound Recordings, Photographs, and works where the owner is a Government/Company. Calculated from the year of publication.
What happens if someone steals your work? The Copyright Act provides powerful tools to stop piracy and recover losses. Infringement happens when someone uses your work without permission (e.g., selling pirated books, using your music in a movie, copying your code).
You can file a suit in court for:
Copyright infringement is a cognizable offence. Police can arrest without warrant.
Confused? Here is the simple difference:
| Feature | Copyright | Trademark | Patent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protects | Original Creative Works (Books, Music, Code) | Brand Identity (Logos, Names, Slogans) | Inventions (New Products/Process) |
| Requirement | Originality | Distinctiveness | Novelty & Utility |
| Term | 60 Years + Lifetime | 10 Years (Renewable Forever) | 20 Years (Non-Renewable) |
| Registration | Voluntary (but recommended) | Mandatory for ® symbol protection | Mandatory |
"As a software developer, I was worried about my code being stolen. IPR Karo handled the 'Source Code' submission perfectly with the 10-page rule. Smooth process!"
Rohan Das
SaaS Founder, Bangalore
"Registered my novel's copyright through them. The team explained the 'Literary Work' rights clearly. Got my diary number the same day."
Ananya Singh
Author
No, copyright protection is technically automatic from the moment of creation. However, relying on this is risky. Without a formal **Registration Certificate**, you cannot sue for infringement in Indian courts. The certificate acts as *prima facie* evidence of ownership, shifting the burden of proof to the copycat. For commercial works (books, music, software), registration is essential.
**Copyright** protects the expression of an idea (literary, artistic, musical). **Trademark** protects your brand identity (name, logo, slogan). **Patent** protects a novel invention or technical process. For example, in a software product: The *Code* is Copyrighted, the *Brand Name* is Trademarked, and the *functional Algorithm* (if novel) might be Patented.
The government fee is very reasonable. For Literary, Dramatic, Musical, and Artistic works, it is **₹500 per work**. For Software code, it is **₹2,000 per work**. For Sound Recordings, it is **₹2,000**, and for Cinematograph Films, it is **₹5,000**. Legal/Professional fees are extra.
No. Copyright law only protects the **expression** of an idea, not the idea itself. If you write a book about a 'Boy Wizard', you own the copyright to your specific story, but you don't own the idea of 'Boy Wizards'. Anyone else can write their own story about a wizard as long as they don't copy your text.
For Literary, Dramatic, Musical, and Artistic works, it lasts for the **Lifetime of the Author + 60 Years**. This ensures your grandchildren can benefit from royalties. For Films, Sound Recordings, and Government works, the protection lasts for **60 Years** from the date of publication.
Software is registered as a 'Literary Work'. You must submit: (1) Form XIV, (2) Source Code (First & Last 10 pages), (3) Object Code, and (4) A brief description of the software's function. If the software is developed by an employee, the employer holds the copyright.
Rejections usually happen due to 'Discrepancies' (e.g., mismatched title, missing NOC). We receive a Discrepancy Letter, to which we must reply within 30 days. If the Registrar is still not satisfied, a 'Hearing' is scheduled where our attorney will argue your case.
Yes! India is a signatory to the **Berne Convention** and the **Universal Copyright Convention (UCC)**. This means your work registered in India is automatically protected in over 175 member countries, including the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Yes, copyright is a transferable asset. you can **Assign** (sell ownership completely) or **License** (rent it out for specific time/territory) your rights. For example, a book author can license 'Movie Rights' to a producer while keeping 'Publishing Rights'.
IPRS (Indian Performing Right Society) collects royalties for composers/lyricists when their music is used in public (radio, malls, weddings). Registering your copyright first makes it much easier to register with IPRS and start earning royalties.
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