Copyright is the legal right of the owner of intellectual property. There remains the right with the original creator to recreate, edit, use, or reproduce its work. In laymen language, copyright protects the work like literary, music, artistic, dramatic, or to film producers. Copyright protects the creativity of the author, therefore, safeguarding the interest of an author.
Any person who composes original product that requires significant mental activity needs to be protected from unauthorized duplication. Unique creations relating to music, novels, poetry, films, architecture, etc. can be protected through copyright. Â Copyright registration is one of the categories of intellectual property rights other being trademark, design and patent registration.
Copyright protects the efforts of the artist along while promoting others to create more. Not every work can be copyrighted, and it does not protect ideas, logo, brand name, etc. Only intangible work is protected through copyright.
Let us understand the copyright registration process in detail.
Copyright Registration Process in India
Step by step registration process as follows:
The copyright registration process is a completely online process and can be applied through the official website of intellectual property rights (IPR).
Fill the copyright application with complete details relating to composition, author details, etc.
The application must be self-attested by the applicant as well as by the authorized person in favour of whom Power of Attorney is executed
Once the registrar receives the application, shall allot Dairy No. to the applicant and there is a mandatory waiting period of 30 days for objections
Once 30 days are over, and there is no objection received so far, scrutinizer will verify the application for its correctness, and in case no discrepancy is found shall register the same
Thereafter scrutinizer forwards the extract of application to the registrar for making the entry of the same in Register of Copyright
In case any objection is received the same is notified to both the parties and the hearing is done thereafter
Once the hearing is completed, scrutinizer after scrutinizing the application shall approve or reject the application depending upon its discretion.
Why get Copyright Registration in India?
The copyright registration process is necessary for protecting the unique work of companies, authors, software developers, artists, writers, etc. Copyright provides several benefits enumerated henceforth:
Copyright act as a prima facie evidence in a court of law. Copyright gives legal right over the work, over its ownership, and thereby protecting the work from infringement.
With the work protected through copyright can enhance the goodwill along with mindset about the quality of the work
Copyright protection can be extended even after the death of the owner
The span of Copyright validity is 60 years after the owner's death which is higher than any other intellectual property right
Once the work is registered as a copyright, it becomes an asset for the owner, and he has every right to trade it, franchise it, or get commercially engaged
Registered copyrights are entered into public records that benefit original creator to claim the ownership over the work
When any composition is protected through copyright, consumer trust it as the original content and is not copied or re-created
Documentation for Copyright Registration in India
Attach the following list of supporting documents with the application:
Identity proof of applicant that depicts the name, address, and nationality of the candidate.
In case the original composition is published, NOC from the publisher is required in case the publisher and applicant are a different person
Power of attorney in favo ur of authorized signatory
Certified copy of original composition/work for which copyright is applied
Complete KYC of author
TM-60 in case search certificate is issued by Trademark office
Legal Rights under Copyright Act
Exclusive rights provided to copyrighted works are as follows:
Composer of original work is entitled to retain the following rights:
Under the paternity right, the owner has complete authority to ask for authorship for published work
Owner of the work can re-compose it as per its discretion
Owner of the copyright can sell, transfer, or give on lease or rent his original work
The owner has all the rights to take defensive action against misuse or reputation loss
Copyright Act prohibits the reproduction or making the copies of original composition unless the owner has authorized for the same
An owner whose work is protected through copyright has full authority to use his work as he wants
The copyright owner has the right to communicate his work to the public using broadcast or any wireless distribution
Get your original composition protected now!
The Copyright Act 1957 protects the composer and restricts the unauthorized usage of any written work, musical work, artistic work, dramatic work, sound recording, cinematography, and other creations. Both published and unpublished works are covered within the scope of the Act.
Our team of experts can assist you starting from applying for copyright registration to hearings and replying to queries of examiner and registrar.