By S&S Co. Advocates & Solicitors · Published 20 September 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice — see our disclaimer
Registration Is Optional, But Valuable
Copyright protection arises automatically upon creation of an original work under the Copyright Act, 1957; registration is not mandatory for protection but creates prima facie evidence of ownership, valuable in infringement litigation and in licensing or assignment transactions where clear proof of ownership speeds negotiations.
Filing the Application
Applications are filed in Form XIV through the Copyright Office's e-filing portal, accompanied by the work itself — manuscript, source code, artwork, and similar material as relevant — and, for artistic works resembling a trademark, a No Objection Certificate from the Registrar of Trade Marks.
Fees by Applicant Type
Government fees under the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013 vary by applicant type and work category — Rs. 500 per work for an individual applicant's literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, versus Rs. 2,000 per work for a company or LLP applicant, and Rs. 2,000 per work for sound recordings and cinematograph films regardless of applicant type. These figures should be re-checked against the current Second Schedule at drafting time, since fee schedules are periodically revised.
The 30-Day Objection Window
The statutory process includes a mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing, during which third parties may lodge objections before the Copyright Office proceeds to examine the application. End-to-end timeline typically runs 2-6 months from filing to certificate issuance where no objections are raised; contested applications take longer.
Software Copyright — A Special Case
For software, source code or object code can be deposited, often in partial or redacted form, as part of a 'literary work' application, allowing protection of the code without disclosing the full trade secret — a practical balance between securing copyright protection and preserving commercially sensitive implementation details.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is copyright registration mandatory to have legal protection?
No. Copyright protection arises automatically on creation of an original work, but registration creates prima facie evidence of ownership that is valuable in infringement litigation and licensing transactions.
How much does copyright registration cost?
Fees vary by applicant type and work category under the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013 — commonly Rs. 500 per work for an individual applicant, Rs. 2,000 per work for a company or LLP, and Rs. 2,000 per work for sound recordings and films regardless of applicant type. Current fees should be re-checked at drafting time.
How long does copyright registration take?
A mandatory 30-day objection window follows filing, and the end-to-end timeline typically runs 2-6 months from filing to certificate issuance where no objections are raised.
References & Further Reading
This article references the following statutory provisions. Readers should always verify current rules, fees and timelines against the applicable statute and rules as amended, since these are revised from time to time.
- Copyright Act, 1957, as amended.
- Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule (fees), current as of the date of filing.