Copyright in India arises automatically upon creation of an original work and does not require registration. However, registration under the Copyright Act 1957 creates a prima facie presumption of ownership (Section 48) and is practically essential for enforcement.
Copyright registration in India is administered by the Copyright Office under the Registrar of Copyrights. An application on Form XIV is filed with the prescribed fee, a mandatory 30-day objection period follows, and if no objection is received or the objection is overruled, the work is entered in the Register of Copyrights. The Act protects original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings. The term of copyright for literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works (other than photographs) is the lifetime of the author plus sixty years from the beginning of the calendar year following the year of the author\'s death.
AMLEGALS advises on copyright registration, the structuring of assignments (which must be in writing under Section 19) and licences, the enforcement of economic and moral rights (Section 57), fair dealing defences under Section 52, and civil and criminal remedies for infringement. The practice covers traditional works, software, digital content, database rights and the interface between copyright and contract.
Filing and prosecuting copyright applications on Form XIV with the Copyright Office.
Drafting copyright assignments compliant with Section 19 and licensing agreements for exploitation of rights.
Advising on and prosecuting civil suits for copyright infringement, including interim injunctions and Anton Piller orders.
Advising on the assertion and enforcement of the author's moral rights of paternity and integrity under Section 57.
Advising on the scope and application of fair dealing exceptions under Section 52.
Advising on copyright protection for software, databases and digital content, including shrink-wrap and click-wrap licensing.
No. Copyright subsists automatically upon the creation of an original work. Registration under the Copyright Act 1957 is voluntary but creates a prima facie presumption of ownership under Section 48 and is practically necessary for effective enforcement — courts and platforms typically require the registration certificate as initial proof of ownership.
The Copyright Act 1957 protects original literary works (including computer programs, tables and compilations), dramatic works, musical works, artistic works (including paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings, photographs and works of architecture), cinematograph films and sound recordings.
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works (other than photographs), copyright subsists for the lifetime of the author plus sixty years from the beginning of the calendar year following the year of death. For photographs, cinematograph films and sound recordings, the term is sixty years from the beginning of the calendar year following the year of publication.
An assignment under Section 19 transfers ownership of the copyright (or a part thereof) to the assignee, who becomes the new owner and can enforce the rights independently. A licence under Section 30 grants permission to exercise certain rights without transferring ownership. An assignment must be in writing, signed by the assignor or authorised agent, and must specify the rights assigned, the duration and the territory.
Section 52(1)(a) provides that fair dealing with any work (not being a computer program) for the purposes of private or personal use, criticism or review, reporting of current events and current affairs, or education does not constitute infringement. The Supreme Court in The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford v Rameshwari Photocopy Services (Delhi University photocopy case, 2016) considered the scope of the educational exception.
No. No engagement is treated as accepted until conflicts, scope and terms are confirmed in writing.
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