Copyright Registration in India | Apply Online - LegalDev

Online Copyright Registration Service in India

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Need Help with Copyright Registration?

Fill Up the below Mentioned Form

Required Document

Passport Size Photograph

01

Passport Size Photograph
PAN Card

02

PAN Card
Registered Office

03

Registered Office Proof

Copy of Electricity Bill / Water Bill / Gass Bill

Aadhaar Card

04

Copy of Aadhaar Card
Address Proof

05

Address Proof
No Objection Certificate

06

No Objection Certificate

Our Fees

₹2999Start Up Plan

  • Register your Private Limited Company at Ministry of Corporate Affairs
  • Drafting & Filing by CA/CS
  • Expert advice by CA/CS
  • MCA processing and CIN
  • Company PAN & TAN
  • MOA
  • AOA
  • Allotment of 2 DINs
  • ESI and PF registration
Register Now

Advantages of Becoming Private Limited Company

Limited Liability

Limited Liability

If a private limited company was in financial trouble and had to close, shareholders would not risk losing their personal assets.

StartUp India

Helpful in Startup India Registration

Under the Startup India scheme you can avail lot of the benefits like raise the funds, subsidy for the trademark registration etc.

Easy Transferable Ownership

Easy Transferable Ownership

It is easier to subscribe or leave the membership of the company. Also it is easier to transfer the ownership.

Selling Business

Selling the Business

As business Corporation value will be based on the business, not the owner, therefore making it easier to sell the company.

Perpetual Succession

Perpetual Succession

The company shall continue to exist till it's wind up in accordance with the provisions of the relevant law.

Raising Money

Raising Money

As per Companies act 2013 a company can sell shares to the public or can accept deposits from public and can therefore raise money easier than other business structure types.

Separate Property

Separate Property

A Company as a legal entity is capable of owning its funds and other properties. The property of Company is not the property of its shareholders.

Better Governed

Better Governed

Companies are governed by the companies Act, 2013 and have to follow various other regulatory procedures during the course of its governance.

Taxation

Taxation

Companies are often taxed at a lower rate and are provided with better taxable benefits as compared to other forms of business organization.

Capacity

Capacity To Sue

As a juristic legal person, a company can sue in its name and be sued by others.

Compliances for a Private Limited Company in India

In order to get a compliance certificate for the private limited company registration there are various aspects that need to be kept in mind. Some of the elements are:

2 board meetings in a calendar year with 1/3rd of the total number of directors or a minimum of 2 directors. The minutes are to be recorded.

An AGM is required to be conducted every year and there should be a gap of 15 months between each of the two AGMs.

Appointment of the Auditor within 15 days of the incorporation of the company through Form ADT-1 to the RoC.

Apart from these there are other requirements too which are:

  • Accounts to be Audited by a Statutory Auditor
  • Filing of Form MGT-7
  • Filing of Financial Statement (Form AOC-4 )
  • Statutory Audit of Accounts
  • Maintenance of Statutory Registers
  • TDS/TCS payment
  • GST payment and GST filing
  • Other payments of periodic dues
  • Filing of quarterly TDS returns
  • Advance tax payment
  • Filing of IT returns
  • Filing of tax audit reports
  • Tax audits

Process of Registering PVT. Ltd. Company

01

Fill the form and make the required payment for the application.

02

Post-Payment the experts will call back and proceed accordingly.

03

A draft regarding how to register a pvt ltd company will be made.

04

The DIN Number and the DSC will be applied for.

05

AOA and MOA are the next document that needs to be submitted for approval.

06

All documents are then sent to the Registrar Of Companies (ROC) of the concerned state for registration and incorporation.

07

Once all the process is done it is just a matter of time before one gets to register a company.

08

After the private limited company registration, the document is then sent to the person.

Application for Copyright Registration

In today's digital and highly competitive world, creativity is your greatest currency. When you spend days and nights writing a new song, designing a software code, preparing a cinematic script, or creating unique website content, you invest a massive piece of your hard work and intellect into it. But imagine how you would feel if tomorrow someone else copies your unique creation without your permission, sells it under their own name, or makes a profit from it? To protect you from such plagiarism and data theft, the law gives us a powerful weapon known as Copyright.

In India, the very first and mandatory step to provide a legal safety net to your creative and original work is submitting an Application for Copyright Registration. Many creators, authors, and developers think that getting a copyright means running around government offices and getting stuck in complicated legal paperwork. However, today's reality is completely different. In this exhaustive master guide by Legaldev.in, we will explain the entire A-to-Z of copyright registration in very simple language. We will explore the online process, the documents you need to keep ready, and how you can secure 100% ownership rights over your intellectual work right from your home.

What is Copyright Registration and Why is It Important?

Let us first understand what a copyright actually is in very simple terms.

A copyright is a type of Intellectual Property Right (IPR) that grants the creator exclusive rights over their original work. In India, this entire system is governed by the rules and regulations of The Copyright Act, 1957. When you file an official application for any unique creation, the government issues a Copyright Registration Certificate after proper verification.

Possessing this certificate means that in the eyes of the law, you are the absolute and sole owner of that work. Without your explicit permission, no third party can:

Which Works Can Be Registered Under a Copyright Application?

The Copyright Act, 1957, provides legal protection for several different categories of creative works. Let's take a look at what you can register:

1. Literary Works

If you're a writer, blogger, or researcher, you can apply in this category. These include:

  • Books, Novels, and E-books.
  • Poetry and Articles.
  • Websites' blogs and unique textual content.
  • Computer Software, Mobile Apps, and Source Codes (because codes are also treated as literary works).

2. Dramatic Works

If you're in the entertainment industry, your scripts are very valuable. You can register here:

  • Movie Scripts, Screenplays, or Dialogues.
  • Choreography aur Dance Steps ke written notations.
  • Concepts of Plays (Natak) and Games.

3. Musical Works

In this category, the core musical composition, chord progressions, and background scores of any song are protected. (Note: The lyrics of the song go into the literary work and the singer's voice into the sound recording).

4. Artistic Works

If you're a designer, photographer, or painter, this category is for you:

  • Paintings, Drawings, and Sketches.
  • Photographs and Digital Artworks.
  • Architectural Designs aur Building Plans.
  • Logos and unique graphics design (if the logo is for business, then first NOC is required from TM office).

5. Cinematographic Films

This includes all types of visual recording work, such as:

  • Feature Movies aur Short Films.
  • Documentaries aur YouTube Videos.
  • Commercial Advertisements aur Animation videos.

6. Sound Recordings

This includes all kinds of audio tracks, such as podcasts, final mix tracks of music, pre-recorded speeches, and sound effects.

The Incredible Benefits of an Application for Copyright Registration

Registering your work is not just about getting a government certificate, it carries immense commercial and legal power:

1. Solid Legal Proof in Court

  • If someone steals your content and the matter goes to court, in the case of unregistered work, you'll first have to prove yourself as the owner by presenting numerous old drafts and proofs, which can take years. However, even if you have a registration certificate, the court can use it. Prima Facie Evidence (Solid evidence) is a belief. You can win the case against the opponent without any delay.

2. Right to claim damages and compensation

  • When your firm or your individual work is registered, you can sue the person committing copyright infringement for heavy monetary damages and legal costs. The court may also impose criminal charges, which can even result in jail time.

3. Earning from Royalty and Monetization

  • As a registered copyright holder, you have the full legal right to license your work to a third company. You can earn significant profits from them for years. Royalty Publishing houses, music labels, and software distributors always offer premium deals for registered work.

4. Absolute Protection Against Plagiarism and Content Theft

  • When your website content, books, or software is officially copyrighted, people are afraid to copy it. If someone uploads your content to a digital platform without permission, you can have their page blocked immediately by sending a DMCA Takedown Notice directly to Google or social media portals.

5. Value as an asset in the global market

  • The value of copyright is not limited to India. Berne Convention and is a member of the Universal Copyright Convention. This means that if you copyright your creation in India, it gets automatic recognition and protection in approximately 160+ countries around the world.

Documents Required for Copyright Registration: The Complete Verified Checklist

To complete the online application process without any glitches, you should keep all the below mentioned documents ready in clear scanned soft-copies:

1. Personal Documents of the Applicant and Author

(Author means the person who has created the work, and Applicant means the one who wants to become the owner of that copyright. Both can be the same).

  • Identity Proof: Aadhaar Card, Passport, or Voter ID Card.
  • PAN Card: It is necessary for tax and legal validations.
  • Address Proof: Latest Bank Statement or Telephone Bill.

2. Copies of the Creative Work (Work Samples)

  • Literary/Software Works: In the case of software, copies of the source code and object code in PDF format. For books or content, the complete manuscript or text sample.
  • Artistic Works: High-resolution digital images or graphic design copies of the artwork.
  • Audio/Video Works: Final audio tracks or video files matching the specified formats.

3. Special Legal Certificates & Declarations

  • No Objection Certificate (NOC): If the applicant and author are different (e.g. a software engineer wrote code for the company), then an NOC signed by the author will be required.
  • Deed of Assignment: If you have hired a freelancer to do the work and are now taking ownership in your name, it will be considered a valid assignment deed.
  • Trademark NOC (Form TM-60): If you are taking copyright of any brand logo or commercial label, then it is compulsory to obtain a search certificate/NOC from the Trademark Registry before applying to the Copyright Office.
  • Power of Attorney (POA): If you are authorizing Legaldev.in experts to file on your behalf, a signed POA document will be required.

Complete Online Copyright Registration Process: Step-by-Step

When your application is filed through the automated, expert-backed channels of Legaldev, the entire process is executed smoothly across 5 systematic stages. Here is the transparent workflow map:

Step 1: Application Filing and Submission of Form XIV

  • First, our IPR experts visit the Copyright Office's official portal and complete Form XIV (Statement of Particulars and Statement of Further Particulars). This form carefully documents the category of your work, author details, and publication status. The application is then submitted by uploading work samples and documents, and a unique Diary Number (Receipt) is generated.

Step 2: 30-Day Mandatory Waiting Period (Objection Zone)

  • As soon as the Diary Number is generated, your application enters a mandatory 30-day waiting period. This waiting period is standard practice so that if any third party feels you have copied their work, they can step forward and file an official 'Objection' on the government portal against your application.

Step 3: Objection Handling (Discrepancy Check)

  • Scenario A (No Objection): If no one raises any objection within 30 days, your application directly moves to the verification stage.
  • Scenario B (Objection Received): If a third party files an objection, the government sends letters to both parties. Our expert legal cell prepares a solid written response in such situations and closes the matter.

Step 4: Scrutiny and Examination by the Examiner

  • After the waiting period clears, the Copyright Office's appointed Examiner thoroughly examines your uploaded work. They check to see if your work is truly original or matches an internet source. If they find any scans blurry or missing details, they Discrepancy Letter Our team will send the legal justification within 30 days to streamline the process.

Step 5: Hearing (In Rare Cases) and Final Registration Certificate

  • If the Examiner is not fully satisfied with the written response, a virtual or physical Hearing is arranged where corporate lawyers present and argue the matter. Once all doubts are resolved, the Registrar officially approves your application, and you are allotted the final registration certificate, known as the Extract of Register of Copyrights (ROC).

How Long Does a Copyright Remain Valid?

A phenomenal feature of a copyright is that, unlike a Trademark or a Patent, you do not need to renew it every few years. Once granted, it stays valid for an exceptionally long period:

  • Literary, Dramatic, Musical, and Artistic Works: In this category, the copyright remains valid for the Lifetime of the Author + 60 Years. This means that as long as the creator is alive, and even for 60 years after their death, their family or legal heirs will continue to receive the profits and royalties from that work.
  • Cinematograph Films and Sound Recordings: For these categories, the validity calculation begins from the year of publication. It remains valid for 60 years counting from its official release date.

What is Copyright Infringement and what are the legal actions against it?

When someone uses your registered content, software, or artwork for commercial purposes without your explicit permission, it is called Copyright Infringement under the law. In India, copyright theft is treated as a serious civil and criminal offense.

If someone steals your work, you hold the following legal powers:

1. Civil Remedies

  • Injunction Orders (Stay Order): The court can instantly stop the defaulting party's business operations so that they cannot sell or distribute your content any further.
  • Accounts of Profits: The court can order the infringer to hand over all the profits they made by stealing and using your creative work.
  • Delivery of Infringing Copies: All printed materials, hard drives, or backup data containing your copied content can be legally seized and destroyed.

2. Criminal Remedies

  • Under Section 63 of the Copyright Act, copyright theft can land the offender in jail for a minimum of 6 months up to 3 years, along with heavy monetary fines. The police hold the absolute right to seize the infringed materials without requiring a separate warrant.

Why choose Legaldev for copyright registration?

Filling out forms on the online portal might look straightforward, but intellectual property laws are highly detailed and intricate. Putting a wrong word in the work description or choosing an incorrect category can block your entire application.

At Legaldev.in, we offer a premier corporate cell to fully secure your creative assets:

  • Practicing IPR Lawyers: Our network consists of seasoned IP attorneys who are experts in handling software applications and literary works. We perform a complete quality check at the very beginning to minimize the chances of a government objection.
  • End-to-End Online Assistance: You never have to visit courts or the registry office. Simply upload your documents onto our secure portal, and we will manage everything from generating the diary number to delivering the final certificate.
  • Strong Objection and Hearing Support: If your application faces a third-party objection or a government discrepancy notice, our legal team provides aggressive representation to defend your work, without charging unexpected legal management expenses later on.
  • Strict Confidentiality Protocols: We understand that before registration, your source code or script is your most valuable asset. Our firm works under strict Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) and bank-grade data security protocols to ensure your data stays completely leak-proof.

Conclusion

That illustrator we mentioned at the start? She filed her copyright application the week after the incident. It's still in the objection window as we write this. Slower than she'd like, but she's no longer standing on shaky ground if it happens again.

Three things matter most from everything above: registration isn't mandatory but it's the strongest proof you'll ever have, the 30-day window is an objection period and not your full timeline, and getting your category and file format right the first time saves you months.

Copyright Registration is, in the end, less about paperwork and more about making sure your work can't be quietly taken from you. Whether you're a developer, a writer, a designer, or a startup founder, the work you've already created deserves a paper trail that holds up.

You built it. Now make sure no one can take credit for it without a fight they can't win. Start your Copyright Registration with LegalDev today — 4,000+ creators and businesses have already filed through our team. Get a free consultation, get your documents reviewed properly the first time, and get your Diary Number without the back-and-forth.

Apply for Copyright Registration Online with LegalDev →

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - Copyright Registration

No, it is not necessary at all. You can easily submit an Application for Copyright Registration for your unpublished work as well (such as a script that hasn't been turned into a movie yet, or software that hasn't launched publicly). In fact, getting a copyright before launching your work in the market is considered much safer.

No. Copyright laws do not protect pure ideas, business concepts, methods, or systems. A copyright only protects the unique way (expression) you have written, drawn, or created that idea. If you have a unique technological or mechanical idea, you should look into Patent registration instead.

Yes, absolutely. Under the Indian Copyright Act, computer programs, source codes, object codes, and digital design layouts of software are registered under the 'Literary Works' category. Along with the application, you need to submit the initial and concluding parts of your source code in a PDF format for the examiner to review.

Because the law mandates a 30-day waiting period for objections, if your application faces no objections or discrepancies, it generally takes around 6 to 10 months to get the final copyright certificate. If the department raises a query, the timeline will depend on the processing of the responses.

No, There is no hassle of renewals when it comes to a copyright. Once the registration certificate is issued, it lasts for the creator's entire lifetime plus an additional 60 years for literary and artistic works. It is a one-time investment for a long-term asset.

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