What Is Copyright?

Copyright is a legal entitlement granted to the owner of intellectual property. As the term implies, it pertains to the right to duplicate or reproduce a creative work. Essentially, copyright signifies that when a person produces a piece of intellectual property, they acquire ownership rights. This means that only the creator or those they authorize have the exclusive right to reproduce or utilize that work. Copyright law provides the original creators of a work with an exclusive right to utilize it or make copies for a designated period. Over time, the copyrighted work may eventually enter the public domain.

What Can You Copyright? Understanding the Categories

Copyright is a valuable tool for safeguarding a wide range of creative works. The Registrar of Copyrights maintains a comprehensive register that is divided into six distinct categories, each tailored to specific types of intellectual property:

• Literary Works (Excluding Computer Programs): This category encompasses many written creations, from novels and poetry to essays, articles, and more.
• Musical Works: Musical compositions, including melodies, lyrics, and sheet music, fall under this category.
• Artistic Works: Visual creations such as paintings, sculptures, drawings, and other artistic expressions enjoy copyright protection.
• Cinematography Films: Copyright extends to films, ensuring the protection of audiovisual works.
• Sound Recordings: This category covers the audio recordings of music, speeches, and various other sound-based creations.
• Computer Programs, Tables, and Compilations: Software, data compilations, and tables are safeguarded by copyright, ensuring the protection of digital innovations.

Copyright Law

These copyrights are upheld and governed by “THE COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957,” which has undergone multiple amendments to adapt to the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.

The Significance of the Copyright Registration Process

Copyright registration is essential as it solidifies your legal ownership of the work. By registering your copyright, you gain control over the dissemination of your work to the public, reproduction rights, and any translations or adaptations of the creative content.

Why Consider Registering Your Work Under Copyright Law?

While registering your work under copyright law isn’t obligatory, it’s highly recommended for several compelling reasons. Copyright protection provides the creator with a specific set of fundamental rights over their work and assures that their creative efforts cannot be replicated for a designated period. This sense of security and legal protection fosters motivation and encourages creators to continue their artistic endeavors and produce more content.

Benefits of Copyright Registration

Copyright registration offers several advantages to creators and intellectual property owners, including the following:

• Safeguarding the Owner: Copyright registration provides copyright owners exclusive rights over their work, encompassing reproduction, distribution, adaptation, dissemination, and translation.
• Legal Protection: Creators benefit from legal protection, ensuring their work cannot be reproduced without proper authorization.
• Enhancing Brand Value: A registered copyright serves as proof of ownership, allowing creators to use it for marketing purposes and contributing to goodwill creation.
• Global Reach: Copyright protection extends internationally. If a work is copyrighted in one country, it enjoys similar privileges in other countries, including India.
• Copyright as an Asset: Copyright is considered an intellectual property asset, making it an intangible resource that can be sold or licensed, adding economic value.
• Owner Visibility: Copyright registration raises the work profile, making it accessible worldwide and searchable in copyright registries. It also prevents unauthorized use of the work once registered.
• Economic Stability: Copyright registration promotes economic stability, enabling creators to reproduce and monetize their art in various forms, contributing to their financial well-being.

Copyright Symbol

Once you’ve obtained copyright registration, you can use the copyright symbol (©) to indicate that your work is protected by copyright. This symbol serves as a clear notice to others that the work is under copyright protection and can help deter unauthorized use or reproduction of your creative work.

Legal Rights of a Copyright Owner

As a copyright owner, you are entitled to a range of legal rights, which include:

• Claiming Authorship: You can claim authorship of your published work, asserting your paternity over the creation.
• Reproduction and Storage: The owner can reproduce the work in any tangible form and store it in any medium through electronic means.
• Control Over Publication: You can decide where and where not to publish your work, exercising the publication right.
• Public Performance and Communication: The owner may publicly perform or communicate the work to the public. You also have the authority to create translations or adaptations of the original work.
• Protecting Reputation: In case of any potential harm to your image or reputation, you have the right to take necessary preventive actions.
• Selling or Transferring: The owner can sell or transfer the copyright, granting others the rights to use, reproduce, or adapt the work as specified in the transfer agreement.

These legal rights empower copyright owners to manage and protect their creative works while allowing them to control their intellectual property.

How Long Does Copyright Protection Last?

Following copyright registration, copyright protection typically endures for the author’s lifetime plus an additional 60 years after the author’s death. This duration ensures that the creator’s work remains safeguarded and continues to benefit their heirs or assigned rights holders for a substantial period.

Conditions for filing a copyright application

• For Artistic Works, upload in pdf/jpg format. For Sound Recording Works, upload in mp3 format. For Literary/Dramatic, Music, and Software* Works, upload in pdf format, ensuring the file size is less than 10 MB.
• For Software, upload a PDF containing at least the first ten and last ten pages of the source code, or the entire source code if under 20 pages, with no redacted or blocked-out sections.

Obtaining Copyright Registration: Step-by-Step Process

Securing copyright registration involves a systematic process that includes the following key steps:

Access the official website

 Visit the Official website of the Copyright Office. Log in with your valid User ID and Password. If you still need to register, click on “New User Registration. Make sure to note down your User ID and Password for future reference.

Submission of Application

 An application containing all the necessary particulars and a statement of the particulars must be prepared in the prescribed format (FORM XIV).

• After logging in, click the “Click for Online Copyright Registration” link. The online “Copyright Registration Form” requires completion in four steps:
• Fill out Form XIV, then click “SAVE” to save your entered details, and proceed to Step 2
• Prepare a scanned copy of your signature for uploading.
• Complete the “Statement of Particulars” and click “SAVE” to save your entered details.
• Fill out the “Statement of Further Particulars. This form applies to “LITERARY/DRAMATIC, MUSICAL, ARTISTIC, AND SOFTWARE” works. Click “SAVE” to store your entered details and proceed.
• Make Payment: This application and the requisite fees outlined in Schedule 2 of the Copyright Act are then forwarded to the copyright registrar. Use the Internet Payment Gateway to make the required payment.

It’s important to note that a separate application is necessary for each distinct work. Additionally, the applicant and an Advocate holding a Vakalatnama or a Power of Attorney (POA) must sign every application.

Dairy Number Issuance

Upon receiving the application, the registrar will issue a Dairy Number, marking the initiation of the copyright registration process. Subsequently, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period for any potential objections to be submitted.

Finally, print one hard copy of each of the “Acknowledgement Slip” and the “Copyright Registration Form” and send them by post to the following address:

• Copyright Division
•  Department For Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade
•  Ministry of Commerce and Industry
•  Boudhik Sampada Bhawan,
•  Plot No. 32, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078
•  Email Address: copyright[at]nic[dot]in
•  Telephone No.: 011-28032496

Copyright Objection Handling

If no objections are raised within 30 days, a scrutinizer will assess the application for any discrepancies. If no differences are found, the registration will proceed, and an extract will be provided to the registrar for entry into the Register of Copyright.

Objection Resolution

If objections are received, both parties will receive a notification from the examiner outlining the objections. A hearing will be arranged to address these objections.

Application Scrutiny

Following the hearing and the resolution of objections, the scrutinizer will meticulously review the application if applicable. Subsequently, they will either approve or reject the application, depending on the specific circumstances.

Copyright Registration Certificate

Once the application is approved, the relevant authority will issue the copyright registration certificate. In the usual course of events, the entire process typically takes approximately 2 to 3 months to complete.

Checking the Status of the Copyright Registration Application

• To verify the status of your Copyright registration application, follow these simple steps:
• Visit the website of the Copyright registrar and locate the “Status of Application” section.
• Provide the diary number you received upon submission, which is also referred to as the acknowledgment number.
• Submit this information, and you will receive the current status of your application.

Distinguishing Copyright, Trademarks, and Patents

Below is an explanation of the distinctions between copyright, trademark, and patent.

Copyright

While copyright provides a specific form of protection, trademark and patent laws offer distinct avenues for safeguarding your intellectual property. Although we often interchange the terms copyright, trademark, and patent, they shield different aspects of your creative works.

Trademark

Trademark laws are designed to safeguard elements that help distinguish one person’s or company’s creations from those of others. This includes items like logos, brand names, slogans, and more, which fall outside the scope of copyright protection.

Click here to learn more about Trademark vs. Copyright: Key Differences in Protection

Patents

On the other hand, patents are granted for inventions for a limited duration. This category covers innovations such as machines, chemical compositions, industrial processes, etc.

Simplifying Copyright Registration with IndiaFilings

Tmr Services offers a streamlined solution to help you secure copyright protection with ease. Our expert services guide you through copyright registration, making it simple and hassle-free. With our assistance, you can efficiently navigate the legal intricacies, submit the required documents, and access the benefits of copyright protection. We aim to empower creators, artists, and innovators to effortlessly protect their intellectual property, ensuring their work receives the recognition and security it deserves.