Copyright registration is done in accordance with the Copyright Act, 1957. With copyright registration, you may become a legal owner of your creative work in respect of books, paintings, music, video, paintings, website, mobile application etc. Copyright registration with the authority ensures that creative work of the author cannot be imitated. No person is authorized to use the same without the permission of the author or creator. The author is allowed to charge others for using his work or modifying it. Copyrights registration safeguards the rights of the creator from infringement. It gives legal protection by which no other person can misuse the copyright in any manner without obtaining the permission of the owner.

Copyright protection is conferred on all Original literary, artistic, musical or dramatic, cinematograph and sound recording works. Original means, that the work has not been copied from any other source. Copyright protection commences the moment a work is created, and its registration is optional. However it is always advisable to obtain a registration for a better protection. Copyright registration does not confer any rights and is merely a prima facie proof of an entry in respect of the work in the Copyright Register maintained by the Registrar of Copyrights.

Now that we understand who is entitled to get a copyright and what essential documents they must have to get it registered, let’s see how you can register your original work with the copyright registrar under Chapter X of the Indian Copyright Act,1957 and Rule 70 of the Copyright Rules’ 2013.

• Legal Protection:- Copyright registration serves as prima facie evidence in the court of law over ownership of the work. Therefore, copyright registration gives the owner legal protection for his/her work.
• Branding and Goodwill:- Registered copyright can be used for marketing and creating a sense of goodwill and quality in the minds of your customer. Registered copyright shows others that you care about your work.
• Global Protection:- Works that are copyrighted in many other countries are accorded similar privileges here in India. Likewise, works copyright registered in India are accorded protection in many foreign countries.
• Restricts Unauthorized Reproduction:- Copyright registration will establish that you are serious about copyright infringement. This will help impede unauthorized reproduction of the work as it provides the owner with a host of legal remedies.
• Creation of Asset:- Copyright registration creates an intellectual property, an intangible asset. Registered copyrights are intellectual property and the rights can be sold, franchised, or commercially contracted.