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Copyright in India is governed by the [Copyright Act 1957](https://copyright.gov.in/) (as amended through the Copyright (Amendment) Act 2012) and the Copyright Rules 2013. Copyright subsists from the moment a work is created (Section 13) - registration is voluntary but practically required for enforcement (Section 45 creates an evidentiary presumption). The term is the lifetime of the author plus 60 years (Section 22 for literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works; Section 25 for cinematograph films and sound recordings - 60 years from publication). The [Berne Convention](https://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ip/berne/) (India is a founding member since 28 April 1928) ensures automatic protection across 181+ countries without national registration. The Copyright Office is at New Delhi under the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education. Form XIV is the standard application under Rule 70 of the Copyright Rules 2013, with separate fees (₹500 per work for literary/dramatic/musical/artistic; ₹2,000 per work for cinematograph films and sound recordings). Software is protected as a literary work under Section 2(o) read with Section 13(1)(a). I-Pro Solutions' copyright practice is led by IP Attorneys with experience in film-industry copyright litigation, SaaS source-code protection, and content-creator enforcement. Software copyright filings use Form XIV with the source-code/object-code extract submitted in sealed envelope under Rule 70(5).
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Under the Copyright Rules 2013, the Copyright Office issues a diary number immediately on filing Form XIV. The application is examined after a 30-day waiting period for objections (Section 45(2) - Form 14 mandatory objection window). If no objection is received and the examination is clear, the registration certificate is typically issued within 8-12 months. Objections or deficiencies extend the timeline to 12-24 months.
No. Under Section 13 of the Copyright Act 1957, copyright subsists from the moment the work is created and fixed in a tangible medium. Registration under Section 45 is voluntary but creates an evidentiary presumption of validity in court under Section 35 - i.e. the certificate is prima facie evidence that copyright subsists and the applicant is the author/owner. Registration is practically required for licensing, assignment recording, and litigation.
Under Section 22 of the Copyright Act 1957, the term for original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works is the lifetime of the author plus 60 years from the beginning of the calendar year following the author's death. For cinematograph films, sound recordings (Section 25), photographs, posthumous works, anonymous/pseudonymous works, and works of government/PSU/international organisations (Sections 25-28), the term is 60 years from the year of first publication.
Under Section 2(o) of the Copyright Act 1957 read with Section 13(1)(a), computer programs are protected as literary works. The application is filed as Form XIV on the Copyright Office portal with: (i) source code and object code in CD/DVD/USB; (ii) the first 25 pages and last 25 pages of source code in print (or full source code if less than 50 pages); (iii) author declaration; (iv) power of attorney in Form V. Government fee is ₹500 per work; ₹2,000 per work for software in a CD-ROM (sound recording category).
An assignment under Section 18 of the Copyright Act 1957 transfers ownership of the copyright itself - the assignee becomes the owner of the assigned rights. A licence under Section 30 grants permission to use the copyright without transferring ownership. An assignment must be in writing and signed by the assignor; it is revocable on the assignee's death unless otherwise provided. A licence may be exclusive or non-exclusive; an exclusive licence must be in writing.