Copyright Registration in India – A Complete Guide by UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd.
Protecting your creative work is a must in today's digitally competitive environment. If you are any of the following: an author, a software developer, a filmmaker, a designer, a composer, or a business owner, protecting your original creation is the way to go. By your protection, you ensure that your hard work is not misused, replicated, or exploited without your consent. That is the point at which copyright registration comes in handy.
In India, copyright is governed under the Copyright Act, 1957. It gives the original producers the freedom to distribute, communicate, and replicate their work. Copyright protection is automatic even without registration. But a registered copyright makes it easy to fight a legal battle, show the ownership, and stop the unauthorized users of your work.
At UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd., we are the ones who take care of the copyright filing, documentation, and compliance processes for creators, businesses, and institutions across India. Being a reliable consulting firm, we assist our clients in securing their works under the copyright law and also facilitate them in other intellectual property-related processes such as IPR compliance, getting the No-Objection Certificates (NOC), and Trademark Registration.
This detailed manual lays out the steps involved in submitting a copyright application, the needed paperwork, the timeframe, and the various compliance services that go hand in hand with the implementation of the full intellectual property protection.
What Is Copyright Registration?
Copyright registration is the legal procedure that equips artists with the ownership and the sole rights to their original creations. A copyright registration brings along a certificate from the Registrar of Copyrights, which is the official recognition of the creation and the ownership, and register copyright.
Copyright is a legal concept that applies to the following types of works:
- Literary works
- Artistic works
- Musical works and sound recordings
- Films
- Computer programs and software
- Architectural works
- Dramatic works and Choreography
- Web content, digital content, and other creative expressions
Even if copyright filing is an inherently existing right, it is absolutely necessary to file for copyright if you want to be able to defend your work against violation, copying, and giving away without your permission.
UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. is there to help you with your mistake-free application preparation, documentation management, and ensuring that everything is going on smoothly with the Copyright Office.
The Process of Copyright Registration in India
We at UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. are equipped with a well-organized, complete and customer-friendly process for filing your copyright application in a precise and timely manner. A detailed step-wise explanation is given below.
Step 1: Identifying the Category of Work
Different sets of forms, declarations, and supporting papers are needed for the various kinds of works. We start by determining whether the task is one of the following:
- Art
- Literary
- Musical
- Dramatic
- Sound recording
- Cinematograph film
- Software or digital content
Having the right classification is very important for a legitimate copyright application according to the Indian copyright law.
Step 2: Preparation of Required Documents
The documents necessary may be different for each case. In general, the following documents are needed:
- Personal identification of the author/creator
- A signed affidavit or a statement of fact that the work is originally yours
- Documentation evidencing the ownership or the rights granted
- Pieces or parts of the work
- A NOC from the owner of any underlying work (for example, a piece of art used in a logo or a music track used in a film)
- Power of Attorney (in the case of a filing through a consultant like UMS PCS)
Our professionals make sure that your documents are in accordance with the law, thus there will be no objections at the time of the examination.
Step 3: Filing the Copyright Application
After the preparation of all the documents, UMS PCS goes online with the copyright application and files it through the official portal. A unique Diary Number is assigned to each application, which is used for tracking purposes.
We keep it that way by:
- Accurate data entry
- Correct classification of work
- Proper attachment of supporting documents
- Compliance with all legal requirements
Inaccurate filing is often the reason for the rejection or delay of the applications, which our consultants working with you help to avoid.
Step 4: Required Waiting & Inspection Period
Following the filing, one cannot do away with a 30-day waiting period during which:
- The Copyright Office seeks complaints
- Third parties may put forward their claims
- Examiners ascertain originality and regulations
In the absence of a protest, the application is forwarded straight to the granting stage. If there are objections, UMS will be your interlocutor in the hearings, it will explain the issues and, if necessary, submit additional documents.
Step 5: Approval & Issuance of the Copyright Certificate
A registered copyright certificate is issued whenever the Copyright Registrar is satisfied with the examination. This certificate acts as:
- Legal proof of authorship
- Solid support in the event of a copyright violation
- A record of the owner's rights for the use of the work in the commercial field
- Security from the unauthorized copying of the work
UMS PCS hands over the certificate together with the advisory support on the management and implementation of copyright protection.
Documentation Required for Copyright Registration
The following list outlines the usual paperwork that is required:
- Proof of the creator's identity
- Declaration of ownership
- Co-creators, publishers, or rights holders NOC
- Original work copies
- Certificate of incorporation (if by a company)
- Release from the copyright holders of the underlying works
- UMS PCS Authorisation Letter
We make sure that all the documents are checked and conform to the requirements before they are submitted.
Timeline of Copyright Registration in India
The time taken to file a copyright varies according to the type of the work and whether there is an objection or not. The overall time frame is:
- Day 1: Application filing and Diary Number generation
- 30 days: Period open for objections
- 1–3 months: Examination and scrutiny
- 3–6 months: Grant of permission, interview (if needed), and issuance of certificate
- Mean total time: 3–8 months
UMS PCS is always on the lookout for the progress of the application, informing the clients regularly, and replying promptly to any office action.
Understanding IPR and Its Connection with Copyright Registration
Copyright registration is a major element of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). IPR provisions protect creative or innovative outputs to prevent their misuse by others. IPR is composed of:
- Copyright
- Trademarks
- Patents
- Designs
- Geographical Indications
- Trade secrets
- Plant variety protection
At UMSPCS, we support clients in making their copyrights consistent with broader IPR plans. As creative works are
IPR is the set of legally binding rules that protect the rights of those who create innovative works or come up with new inventive solutions in any field. The main goal of IPR is to grant the authors certain exclusive rights over their works for a certain period to be able to reap the fruits of their labor, which in turn promotes the incentive of further creation and innovation.
NOC Registration and Its Role in Copyright Filing
During the copyright filing process, a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) is commonly mandatory. It is a confirmation in law that the person providing the NOC has no objection to the copyright claim.
When is NOC necessary?
- A publisher owns first rights
- A logo that uses the third party’s artwork
- Co-authors are involved
- Software is developed by multiple developers
- A company claims copyright for an employee’s work
- Music or visual elements are borrowed or licensed
UMS PCS drafts NOCs in legally compliant formats, gets signatures, and adjusts them to the requirements of the Copyright Office.
Correct NOC registration is a guarantee that your copyright application will be processed without any objections.
Trademark Registration – Supporting Your Copyright Protection
Despite being different, a trademark registration is very much related to a copyright filing, especially for businesses, creators, designers, and content owners.
A trademark is a legal protection for: Brands, Names, Logos, Slogans, Tags, and Packaging, A business identity
Quite often, a logo or art that is used for branding is also copyrighted. Hence, after a copyright registration, UMS PCS is a firm believer of the necessity of a Trademark Registration to protect the commercial identity of the work.
A Trademark helps to copyright by:
- Stopping other people from using your brand
- Giving a brand protection for a long time in the market
- Making the ownership
- Helping to get and keep the recognition in the market
Copyright is the one that protects the work, while a trademark is the one that protects the brand that is related to that work.
UMS PCS is your go-to service for a full range of trademark filing, through to managing your examination and providing certification support anywhere in the country. So, your IP assets can be fully secured.
Conclusion
To protect your original work and to be able to enforce your rights under the copyright law, registering your copyright is a must. UMS Product Compliance Services Pvt. Ltd. takes care of the whole process for you from recording and filing to handling disputes and getting NOCs, thus guaranteeing a smooth and faultless operation.
We, at your service, provide the full spectrum of intellectual property protection to individuals, creators, and businesses by coupling the copyright with other IPR measures like NOC registration and trademark filing.
Mail id: biscro.customercare@umspcs.in
Contact no. - +91 7011067811
