Protect your book, song, artwork, film, photograph or software with a copyright registration certificate. A dedicated IP expert checks eligibility, prepares the application and statement of particulars, files it online with the Copyright Office and follows it through to registration under the Copyright Act, 1957.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee + government fee
Copyright registration in India means entering your original work in the Register of Copyrights kept by the Copyright Office under the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Copyright Rules, 2013. It covers literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings and software. Copyright exists automatically from creation, but the registration certificate is strong evidence of ownership if your work is copied or disputed.
Last updated: October 2026. Forms, fees and time limits can change and every case depends on its facts, so we confirm the current position before filing. No outcome can be guaranteed.
Copyright is the exclusive right to copy, publish, perform, adapt, translate and communicate an original work to the public. Under Section 13 of the Copyright Act, 1957, it subsists in original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings. The author is usually the first owner, except in cases such as employment or commissioned work where the law or a contract says otherwise.
Registration under Section 45 records your claim in the Register of Copyrights and gives you a certificate with a registration number. It does not create the right, because copyright already exists from the moment of creation. What it adds is public, official evidence of who claims to own the work and when. Copyright protects expression only. Ideas, methods and facts are not protected, and titles, names and slogans alone are generally not registrable.
For official forms, the online application and notices, visit copyright.gov.in, the official website of the Copyright Office, Government of India. If your brand name or logo also needs protection as a mark, see our trademark registration online and wordmark registration services. If you have already received a letter on your application, see our copyright objection reply service.
Important points every copyright owner should know.
Copyright covers original creative works, not ideas, names or functions.
Original written and textual works.
Original visual works.
Compositions and performance works.
Recorded audio and visual works.
Computer programs are treated as literary works.
Some subject matter falls outside copyright.
Not sure whether your work qualifies, or which category it falls under? Share it with us and our experts will review it free of charge.
Why authors, artists, developers and companies register their work.
The certificate is public, official evidence of your claim to the work.
Makes it easier to send a legal notice and seek an injunction and damages against copying.
A registered work can be licensed, assigned or shown to investors and buyers.
A certificate helps when you report copied content to online platforms and marketplaces.
Creates a record of your claim with the Copyright Office from the date of application.
India is a Berne Convention member, so Indian works generally receive protection in other member countries.
Share your work and documents from anywhere in India. No office visit is needed.
From eligibility check to registration certificate, here is how a copyright application proceeds.
Timelines depend on Copyright Office schedules and whether any discrepancy or objection is raised. Not to scale.
We confirm your work is original and registrable, and identify whether it is a literary, artistic, musical, film, sound recording or software work.
We establish who the author and the applicant are, and whether an assignment, licence or no-objection certificate is needed.
We draft the application and statement of particulars, and guide you on the copy of the work that must accompany it.
The application is filed on the Copyright Office portal with the prescribed fee, along with the Power of Attorney if we are filing for you.
If a third party objects or the examiner raises a discrepancy, we draft the reply and support you at a hearing, if one is called.
Once the Registrar is satisfied, the work is entered in the Register of Copyrights and the certificate is issued. We track the status until then.
Keep these ready to avoid delays. Our expert will confirm the exact list for your case.
The total cost depends on the class of work, the number of works and whether a discrepancy or objection needs a reply. It generally has three parts:
Depends on the class of work, such as literary, artistic, film, sound recording or software. The schedule can change, so we confirm the current fee before filing.
Our fee depends on the number of works and the work involved. Call free for a custom quote before you pay anything.
Assignment deeds, notarisation, discrepancy replies and hearings are charged separately where they arise.
We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the situation that matches your case, or call free for a custom quote.
One book, artwork, song, film or other work.
Source code, apps, or several works filed together.
Letter or objection received on your application.
Our professional fee is quoted per matter after a free call. Government fee is separate. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free work review.
If your work is original and valuable to you, a certificate gives you proof when it matters.
Creators of books, articles, scripts and other literary works.
Owners of artwork, logos, illustrations and photographs.
Creators of songs, sound recordings, films and videos.
Teams protecting source code, apps and digital content.
Businesses that own works as employer, commissioner or assignee.
If your product name or logo needs protection too, see our trademark registration online service.
These rights protect different things. Ask us which one fits your work or product.
| Right | What it protects | Governing law | Term | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright | Original literary, artistic, musical and other works, films, sound recordings and software | Copyright Act, 1957 | Generally life of author plus 60 years; varies by work | Arises automatically; registration is optional |
| Trademark | Brand name, logo and other identifiers | Trade Marks Act, 1999 | 10 years, renewable | See trademark renewal |
| Design | The look of an article: shape, pattern, ornament | Designs Act, 2000 | 10 years, extendable by 5 | See design registration; copyright in a design may be lost once it is industrially applied |
| Patent | A new invention or how a product works | Patents Act, 1970 | 20 years from filing | Needs novelty and inventive step |
Correct particulars and the right documents decide most copyright applications.
Registration is the start of protecting and managing your work.
The Copyright Office enters the work in the Register of Copyrights and issues the registration certificate.
Monitor the market and online platforms. If someone copies your work, a legal notice, platform takedown and court remedies may be available.
You can license or assign your copyright in writing. A written agreement should state the rights, duration and territory.
Register the brand name or logo as a trademark. See our trademark registration online service, and our pages on trademark objection and trademark opposition if issues arise.
For local support, see our pages for trademark registration in Dwarka and Jaipur.
Quick answers on copyright registration in India.
Copyright registration is the process of entering your original work in the Register of Copyrights maintained by the Copyright Office under the Copyright Act, 1957. The certificate serves as evidence of your claim to ownership of the work.
No. Copyright arises automatically when an original work is created. Registration is optional, but the certificate is useful evidence of ownership if the work is copied or disputed, and it is usually needed before certain legal steps.
Original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings can be registered. This includes books, articles, scripts, songs, paintings, logos as artwork, photographs, films, and software including source code.
Ideas, concepts, methods and facts are not protected, only their original expression. Names, titles, slogans and short phrases alone are generally not registrable. A brand name or logo used as a trademark should be protected through trademark registration.
Prepare the application and statement of particulars for your work, upload the required documents and a copy of the work on the Copyright Office portal, pay the prescribed fee, note the diary number, and answer any discrepancy letter or objection until the work is registered.
Usually the applicant's identity and address proof, a copy of the work, a description and title of the work, details of the author and publication, a no-objection certificate or assignment where the applicant is not the author, and a Power of Attorney if a professional files for you.
The government fee depends on the class of work, such as literary, artistic, film, sound recording or software. The schedule can change, so we confirm the current fee before filing. Our professional fee is quoted separately.
After a diary number is issued there is a waiting period of generally 30 days for objections. If there is no objection or discrepancy, the application moves to registration. A discrepancy letter or objection adds time, so we cannot promise a fixed timeline.
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, copyright generally lasts for the life of the author plus 60 years. For works such as cinematograph films, sound recordings and photographs, it generally runs for 60 years from publication. The exact term depends on the type of work.
Yes. Software is treated as a literary work under the Copyright Act, 1957, so computer programs and source code can be registered. The Copyright Office has specific requirements on how the code is submitted, which we confirm before filing.
You must file a written reply with supporting documents within the time stated in the letter. If another person objects, the Registrar may hold a hearing. Missing the deadline can lead to refusal, so reply early.
Copyright protects original creative works, a trademark protects a brand identifier such as a name or logo, a design protects the look of an article, and a patent protects a new invention or how something works.
India is a member of the Berne Convention, so works by Indian authors generally receive protection in other member countries without separate registration, subject to local law. A foreign country may still have its own formalities, so check before enforcing a right abroad.
Ready to protect your creative work or software? Speak to our IP expert today – the work review and the quote are free.
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