Follow the current 2026 copyright registration procedure in India: Form XIV, documents, 30-day objection period, examination, hearing and certificate.
Last verified: 28 September 2026. Copyright registration is filed with the Copyright Office, Government of India, using Form XIV under section 45 of the Copyright Act and rule 70. The Copyright Office continues to provide e-filing, online status tracking and a public objection workflow.
Copyright generally arises automatically when an original work is created and the legal requirements for protection are met. Registration is not what creates every copyright right, but an entry in the Register of Copyrights can be valuable evidence and provides an official registration record.
Copyright registration is available for categories such as:
The filing requirements and government fee vary by work type.
The current application is Form XIV.
The official Form XIV requires a Statement of Particulars and, where applicable, a Statement of Further Particulars.
A separate application should be made for each work.
Prepare information such as:
For an artistic work used or capable of being used in relation to goods or services, additional trademark-related requirements can apply.
Use the official Copyright Office website.
The portal currently provides:
After filing, a Diary Number is generated. Keep it for tracking.
The official Second Schedule currently lists, among others:
| Work / application | Government fee |
|---|---|
| Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work | ₹500 per work |
| Artistic work used/capable of being used in relation to goods or services | ₹2,000 per work |
| Cinematograph film | ₹5,000 per work |
| Sound recording | ₹2,000 per work |
Use the current Second Schedule before payment because fees can be amended.
Copyright registration is not an instant certificate process.
The Copyright Office publishes applications in its Waiting Applications for Objection system. The current portal states that objections may be made within 30 days of publication.
This period gives interested parties an opportunity to dispute the claim.
After the prescribed objection stage, the application can move into examination.
The Office may:
Applicants should monitor the portal using the Diary Number.
An objection does not automatically mean rejection.
The applicant may have to:
The Registrar then decides the application according to the Act and Rules.
If the Registrar is satisfied and the application clears the process, the particulars are entered in the Register of Copyrights.
The applicant can then access the registration record/certificate through the applicable Copyright Office system.
Do not rely on websites promising a guaranteed certificate in 7, 15 or 30 days.
The process includes a statutory/public objection stage and may also involve examination, discrepancies or hearings.
The actual completion time depends on:
TaxQue can assist with application preparation, document checking and filing support.
Copyright Registration Service
Information note: Copyright ownership can involve contracts, employment, assignments and multiple authors. Complex ownership disputes require case-specific legal advice.
This article is published by TaxQue (ARB FinTech LLP) for general informational, educational, and business guidance purposes only. Tax laws, GST rules, MCA circulars, and judicial precedents are subject to frequent statutory revisions. This content does not constitute formal individualized tax, accounting, or legal counsel.
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