Copyright registration in India is optional, because copyright arises the moment a work is created, but the registration certificate is prima facie evidence of ownership in court. You file Form XIV with the Copyright Office, pay ₹500 per literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (software included), or ₹2,000 for an artistic work used on goods or services, wait a mandatory 30 days for objections, and the work is then examined. Professional fee from ₹3,599, excluding GST; the Copyright Office fee is paid separately at actuals.
The Copyright Office fee is charged per work, and one application covers one work. These are the fees listed on copyright.gov.in under the Copyright Rules, 2013.
| Type of work | Registration fee | Change of particulars |
|---|---|---|
| Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (including software) | ₹500 | ₹200 |
| Artistic work used or capable of use in relation to goods or services | ₹2,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Sound recording | ₹2,000 | ₹1,000 |
| Cinematograph film | ₹5,000 | ₹2,000 |
Worked example: a startup registers its app source code and its logo. Code: ₹500. Logo, used on its services: ₹2,000, plus a trademark search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry. Two applications, ₹2,500 in government fees, and our professional fee on top.
Source: fee details, copyright.gov.in. The fee is not refunded if an application is rejected.
| Stage | Timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Filing of Form XIV with fee | Day 1 | Diary number issued |
| Waiting period | 30 days, mandatory | Anyone may object to the registration |
| Examination | After the waiting period | Discrepancy letter if anything is missing; reply within the time it states |
| Objection, if filed | Adds months | The Registrar hears both parties before deciding |
| Registration | Around 2 to 3 months in the normal course | Entry in the Register of Copyrights; extract issued |
Source: Copyright FAQs, ipindia.gov.in. Our 6-month timeline allows for one discrepancy round.
| Work | What to submit |
|---|---|
| Every work | Form XIV with the statement of particulars, the fee, copies of the work, author NOC if the applicant is not the author, power of attorney if an agent files |
| Software | Source code and object code |
| Logo or artwork used on goods or services | Trade Marks Registry search certificate, and the statement that it is so used |
| Sound recording or film | Rights agreements or NOCs from the authors of underlying works |
| Work by a freelancer or agency for your business | Written assignment in your favour |
| You want to protect | Right tool |
|---|---|
| Book, blog, course material, code | Copyright (literary work) |
| Brand name, tagline | Trademark only |
| Logo | Trademark for the brand; copyright for the artwork |
| Invention or technical process | Patent |
| Shape or look of a product | Design registration |
Pick the speed and depth that matches your need. Same quality, same CA team — only the timeline changes.
Timeline: 6 months
Timeline: 6 months
Timeline: 6 months
Government fee — paid by you at actuals
The Copyright Office charges a statutory fee per work, under the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013 — ₹500 for a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, including software source code, and ₹2,000 where an artistic work is used or capable of being used in relation to goods or services. Cinematograph films and sound recordings attract higher slabs. Each additional work is a separate fee. Paid by you at actuals.
Every price above is a professional fee, excluding GST and government charges. 50% upfront, 50% on delivery.
All fees and charges listed are indicative only and do not constitute a binding offer. Final amounts may vary depending on the volume of work and the complexity involved.
Share your work (article, code, design, music, video, photo).
We prepare the application and statement of particulars with author, owner, year and nature of work, plus any NOCs.
Filed on copyright.gov.in with the fee. You receive a diary number.
A mandatory 30-day wait so that anyone can object. It cannot be shortened.
The work is examined; any discrepancy letter is answered. If all is in order, the entry is made in the Register of Copyrights and the extract issued.
Tell us your requirement, a CA will call you in 30 minutes.
In India, copyright is automatic the moment you create the work in a tangible form. Registration adds legal weight.
The registration certificate is prima facie evidence of the particulars entered in the Register, which shifts the burden onto the other side in a dispute.
Infringement is an offence under section 63 of the Copyright Act: imprisonment of six months to three years and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh, alongside civil injunctions and damages.
India is a Berne Convention member, so works are protected in other member countries without registering there.
For literary, musical and artistic works, copyright lasts for the author’s lifetime plus 60 years.
Professional fee from ₹3,599 for a single work, plus the Copyright Office fee of ₹500 for most works, paid at actuals.
