Quick answer
How much does copyright registration cost in India?
The government fee for copyright registration is ₹500 per work for a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, including software. An artistic work used on goods or services costs ₹2,000, a sound recording ₹2,000 and a cinematograph film ₹5,000 per work. Each work needs a separate Form XIV application. Professional fees are extra.
- ₹500 per work for books, art, music, software
- ₹2,000 for artwork used on goods, ₹2,000 for sound recordings
- ₹5,000 per cinematograph film
- One work per Form XIV application
- 30-day wait for objections before examination
What is copyright registration and who needs it?
Copyright registration is the entry of an original work in the Register of Copyrights kept by the Copyright Office under the Copyright Act, 1957. Copyright arises the moment you create the work, so registration is voluntary, but the registration certificate is the cleanest evidence of authorship and date when a dispute starts.
In practice the people who come to us for it are:
- authors, poets and coaching institutes publishing books, notes or course material;
- designers and brand owners who want the artwork of a logo, label or packaging recorded;
- software firms and app developers protecting program code;
- musicians, YouTubers and studios with songs, lyrics, sound recordings and films;
- architects, photographers and illustrators;
- businesses that pay freelancers for creative work and want ownership on record.
If you only need to protect a brand name or slogan, that is a trademark matter, covered on our trademark registration page. Many logo owners file both: a trademark for the brand and a copyright for the artwork.
Copyright vs trademark: which one do you need?
Copyright protects the creative expression itself, such as the text, drawing, music or code. A trademark protects a sign that identifies whose goods or services they are. A logo can qualify for both, while a book or a program is a copyright matter and a brand name is a trademark matter.
| Point | Copyright | Trademark |
|---|---|---|
| What it protects | Original literary, artistic, musical, dramatic works, films, sound recordings, software | Brand names, logos, slogans, labels used in trade |
| Law | Copyright Act, 1957 | Trade Marks Act, 1999 |
| Application form | Form XIV | Form TM-A |
| Government fee | From ₹500 per work | From ₹4,500 per class |
| How long it lasts | For most works, 60 years from the year after the author's death | 10 years, renewable |
| Office | Copyright Office, Dwarka, New Delhi | Trade Marks Registry (Delhi branch also in Dwarka) |
Sources: Copyright Office handbook and IP India fee table, checked November 2026.
Need help with copyright registration? Talk to a chartered accountant in Delhi today. First call is free.
What documents are needed for copyright registration?
You need the applicant's identity details, copies of the work, the author's details and, where the applicant is not the author, a no objection certificate or assignment from the author. Agents also need a power of attorney. The Copyright Office checks these at the formality stage before an examiner looks at the work.
| Document | When it is needed | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|
| Applicant's name, address, nationality, PAN or ID | Every application | Company or LLP applies in its own name |
| Copies of the work | Every application | Books as PDF or printed copies, art as clear images, software as program code |
| Author's details | Every application | Name, address and, if dead, date of death |
| No objection certificate from the author | When the applicant is not the author | Common for employer-owned or commissioned work |
| Assignment deed | When rights were bought or transferred | Keep the stamped original ready |
| NOC from the publisher | Published work, applicant is not the publisher | Mention year and place of first publication |
| Search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry | Artistic work used or capable of use on goods | Required by Rule 70(6) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 |
| Power of attorney | When an agent files | Signed by the applicant |
Based on the Copyright Rules, 2013 and forms, checked November 2026.
How to apply for copyright registration online: step by step
The filing is done on the Copyright Office e-filing portal. Each work goes in its own application, so a set of ten illustrations means ten applications unless they form a single compiled work.
- 1
Classify the work
Decide whether it is literary (including software), artistic, musical, dramatic, a sound recording or a film, because the fee and checks differ.
- 2
Collect ownership papers
Gather the author's details, any NOC or assignment, publisher details and, for labels or logos, the Trade Marks Registry search certificate.
- 3
File Form XIV and pay the fee
Complete the form with the statement of particulars, upload the work and pay online. A diary number is generated for tracking.
- 4
Wait out the 30-day objection period
Anyone who claims an interest in the work can object during the mandatory 30 days from receipt of the application.
- 5
Formality check and examination
The Office checks completeness, then an examiner reviews the work. Gaps lead to a discrepancy letter that must be answered by the date it gives.
- 6
Hearing if there is an objection
If a third party objects or the examiner raises an issue, both sides may be heard before a decision.
- 7
Entry in the Register
Once cleared, the particulars are entered in the Register of Copyrights and the extract can be downloaded.
What are the copyright registration fees?
Copyright registration fees are charged per work and depend on the type of work: ₹500 for most literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, ₹2,000 where the artwork is used on goods or services, ₹2,000 for a sound recording and ₹5,000 for a cinematograph film.
| Type of work | Fee per work |
|---|---|
| Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (books, articles, lyrics, drawings, software) | ₹500 |
| Literary or artistic work used or capable of use in relation to goods or services (logo art, labels, packaging) | ₹2,000 |
| Sound recording | ₹2,000 |
| Cinematograph film | ₹5,000 |
Source: Copyright Office fee details and the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013, checked November 2026. Check the portal again before paying, as the schedule can be revised.
How long does copyright registration take?
Filing takes a day once the papers are ready, but the Office must first wait 30 days for objections, and applications are then taken up in order of receipt. The Copyright Office manuals say the actual time varies with workload, so plan in months, not weeks, and answer any discrepancy letter promptly.
Delays usually come from three things: a missing NOC from the author, unclear copies of the work, and a logo or label filed without the Trade Marks Registry search certificate. Fixing these before filing is the simplest way to keep the application moving.
Why do copyright applications get objections or discrepancy letters?
Most discrepancy letters point to incomplete paperwork rather than a problem with the work itself. The common causes we see are listed below, and each can be avoided at the drafting stage.
- Ownership gaps. A company files for work made by a freelancer with no written assignment or NOC.
- Wrong category. A logo filed as a plain artistic work when it is used on goods, which needs the higher fee and the search certificate.
- Several works in one form. Rule 70(2) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 allows one work per application.
- Poor copies. Blurred images or incomplete text that the examiner cannot assess.
- Third-party objection. Someone claims the work is theirs during the 30-day window, which leads to a hearing.
Copyright does not protect a bare idea, a title or a short phrase on its own. Registering the expression, such as the full text, design or code, is what counts.
Copyright registration in Delhi: what local applicants should know
The Copyright Office itself is in Delhi, at Boudhik Sampada Bhawan, Plot No. 32, Sector 14, Dwarka, New Delhi 110078, the same building that houses the Delhi branch of the Trade Marks Registry. Filing is online, so a Delhi applicant files the same way as anyone else, but a hearing or record inspection is a short trip rather than a flight.
- Publishers and coaching institutes. Delhi's book trade and coaching hubs produce study material that is copied heavily. Registering each title gives you a dated record to show a marketplace or a court.
- Design and printing businesses. Label and packaging designers working with traders in areas served by our CA in Dwarka page and across West Delhi often register the artwork for their clients.
- Software start-ups. Founders who have just finished private limited company registration should make sure code written by founders and contractors is assigned to the company before filing in the company's name.
How CA in Delhi handles your copyright registration
None of the three firms listed on CA in Delhi names copyright filing among its published services, so we pass your enquiry to a partner professional who handles copyright applications, and we confirm the scope and a fixed quote with you before anything is filed. You deal with one contact throughout.
What you send us: the work (file or images), author and applicant details, any assignment or NOC, and for logos the brand details so the trademark search can run alongside. What you get back: the filed Form XIV with diary number, replies to any discrepancy letter within the scope agreed, and the registration extract when it issues.
If your brand also needs a trademark, see the firms on our chartered accountant firms in Delhi page; Khubchandani & Co. lists trademark registration. Prefer to meet? Our office is at Netaji Subhash Place, or look up a CA near me for other options. You can also start by WhatsApp on +91 99114 92897.
Frequently asked questions
What are the copyright registration fees in India?
As of November 2026 the Copyright Office charges ₹500 per work for literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, ₹2,000 for an artistic or literary work used on goods or services, ₹2,000 for a sound recording and ₹5,000 for a cinematograph film. Professional charges for drafting and follow-up are separate and you get a fixed quote first.
Is copyright registration in Delhi different from other cities?
The process and fees are the same across India because filing is online. The difference is location: the Copyright Office is in Dwarka, New Delhi, so Delhi applicants can attend a hearing or inspect records easily. Our team at Netaji Subhash Place handles the filing for applicants anywhere.
Is copyright registration compulsory?
No. Copyright exists from the moment an original work is created and fixed. Registration is voluntary, but the extract from the Register of Copyrights is strong evidence of ownership and date, which helps in infringement cases, takedown requests and licensing deals.
Can I register software or a mobile app under copyright?
Yes. Computer programs are treated as literary works, so the ₹500 per work fee applies. You file the program as one work and upload the program material the Office asks for. If developers or contractors wrote it, get a written assignment to your company before applying.
Can I register my logo under copyright as well as trademark?
Yes. The logo artwork can be registered as an artistic work, and because it is used on goods or services the fee is ₹2,000 and a search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry is needed. The trademark separately protects the logo as a brand identifier.
How long does copyright protection last?
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works published in the author's lifetime, copyright lasts until 60 years from the start of the year after the author's death. Films, sound recordings and some other categories are counted from publication. Registration does not need renewal.
Can a company apply for copyright registration?
Yes. A company, LLP or firm can apply as owner if the work was made by employees in the course of employment or assigned to it in writing. The author's details still go in the form, and an NOC or assignment supports the claim.
Can I register a title, name or slogan under copyright?
Generally no. Short titles, names and slogans are not treated as works on their own. A brand name or tagline is protected through a trademark application instead, while the full book, script or artwork behind it can be registered as copyright.
What is the 30-day waiting period?
After an application is received, the Copyright Office waits a mandatory 30 days so that anyone who claims an interest in the work can object. If no objection comes in, the application moves to the formality check and examination in order of receipt.
What happens if someone objects to my application?
The Office sends the objection to you and fixes a hearing. Both sides present their case and evidence of creation, such as drafts, emails, dated files or publication records. The Registrar then decides whether to register the work. Keep your working files safe for this reason.