Copyright Registration in India

Why Register Your Creative Work?

Importance Of Copyright Registration

Firstly: As copyright is an automatic right, proving your claim may be a very difficult matter without proper evidence to back you up. All too often, it boils down to a case of 'their word against yours'. Without proper protection, something you have created could end up making money for someone else.

Secondly: If your work is later passed off as the work of someone else, how do you prove that it was yours to start with?

• Your friends and family may vouch for you, but their opinion is by nature biased.
• The person who copied your work could easily get their friends and family to vouch for them too.

Finally: Posting a copy to yourself is virtually worthless (though we are amazed how often this urban myth is quoted as a way to prove copyright):

• As the copy you post remains in your possession, the other party can easily show that you had ample opportunity to tamper with the contents.
• Once opened, it could not be used as evidence in any future claim or appeal.

How Copyright Registration Helps?

Independent Proof Of Your Creative Work

A Copyright registration creates an independently verifiable record of the content of your Creative work as it existed at that point in time.

Deters Infringement And Reduces Disputes

One of the advantages of registration is that when the defendant realizes the weight of evidence is against them, they will normally seek to come to an amicable arrangement and avoid legal costs.

• In many cases, simply stating that a work is registered with the Copyright Service may be enough to make a would-be infringer think again in the first place.

Faster Resolution Of Disputes

Having independent evidence of your claim can greatly speed up decisions that would otherwise tend to be their word against yours.

• Making the Copyright Office in India your evidence provider will help for speedy justice.

International Copyright Protection

India being a signatory member of the Bern Convention, your Copyright Protection is covered in multiple countries. You may check the list of Bern Convention member countries.

Evidence Available Time After Time

Whenever you need proof of the content of your work, the evidence submitted by you will be verifiable by the Copyright Office in India from time to time whenever required.

Secure, Managed Back-Ups

Copyright Registrations are backed-up electronically and stored in geographically separate locations.

• This means that your work will never be lost through data corruption, fire, or other problems.
• All back-ups are also encrypted to ensure strict confidentiality and security.

What If Your Work Is Infringed / Copied?

If an infringement is made on your work, your Copyright Registration details such as Diary No. or Certificate will provide strong evidence of your copyright ownership from the date of registration, as this is issued by the Government of India. Hence, its value will hold paramount importance in the court of law.

When To Register Your Copyright?

Generally speaking, the sooner the better. As Registration of Copyright provides evidence of your work from the date of registration, we always recommend that your work is registered before it is available for others to view.

Summary Of Key Benefits