Copyright Registration
Protect your original creative work—software source code, literary manuscripts, music, artistic designs, and courses—with a registered copyright. It establishes public, statutory proof of ownership and makes digital takedowns dramatically easier.
Key benefits
- Statutory Proof of Ownership: Prima facie legal evidence in court regarding the author and date of creation.
- Powerful Enforcement: Enables rapid DMCA and platform takedowns (YouTube, Amazon, App Stores) for stolen content.
- Statutory Damages: Grants the right to claim statutory damages and attorney fees in civil infringement suits.
- Broad Protection Scope: Covers Software, Literary, Artistic, Musical, and Cinematograph films.
Documents required
- Copies of the work (Source code printouts, manuscript, artwork, video files).
- Author and owner identity details (PAN/Aadhaar).
- No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the author, if the author is different from the owner (e.g., an employee or freelancer).
- Publication details (if the work has already been published).
How it works
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1
Work Classification
Properly categorizing the work to ensure the correct form is filed (e.g., UI design as Artistic, Code as Literary).
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2
Filing
Application submitted to the Copyright Office with the Statement of Particulars.
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3
Objection Window
Mandatory 30-day waiting period for any third-party objections to be filed.
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4
Registration
After scrutiny by the examiner, Extracts of the Register (ROC) are issued as your official certificate.
Frequently asked questions
Isn't copyright automatic upon creation?
Yes, copyright exists the moment a work is fixed in a tangible medium. However, a registered copyright serves as definitive public evidence, drastically simplifying legal disputes.
Can I copyright my mobile app?
Yes. The underlying source code is registered as a 'Literary Work', and the unique UI/UX graphical design can be registered as an 'Artistic Work'.
How long does copyright protection last?
For literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, it lasts for the author's lifetime plus 60 years. It does not require periodic renewals.