Copyright Registration for Literary Work
Books, articles, blogs, course material and software code are all literary works under the Copyright Act, 1957. We file Form XIV on the Copyright Office portal (government fee ₹500 per work) and see it through the 30-day objection window to the register entry.
What it is
Copyright in a literary work is your exclusive right to reproduce it, issue copies to the public, translate it and adapt it, as set out in Section 14(a). The right exists once you write the work down. Registration records it, with a date, in the Register of Copyrights.
Section 2(o) says a literary work includes computer programmes, tables and compilations, including computer databases. So a novel, a research paper, website copy and an app’s source code all sit in the same class. You apply under Section 45 of the Act and Rule 70 of the Copyright Rules, 2013, one work per application. It is one part of our copyright registration service for every type of work.
Who it applies to
Authors and self-publishers
Novels, poetry, non-fiction and e-books. Register before the manuscript goes around.
Journalists, bloggers and educators
Articles, columns, blogs, course notes and question banks. Staff writers should check Section 17(a) on newspaper rights first.
Software companies and developers
Code is a literary work, and Rule 70(5) asks for source and object code. Code a founder wrote before incorporation stays theirs until a founders’ agreement assigning IP to the company says otherwise.
Why it matters
Shift the burden of proof
Under Section 48, the Register is prima facie evidence of what it records. The other side must then disprove your ownership.
Fix the date you wrote it
Plagiarism fights turn on who wrote first. Picture a Faridabad coaching institute whose question bank turns up for sale online under another name. A dated registration settles it.
Close publishing and funding deals faster
Publishers and investors ask for clear title. A register entry plus a written assignment settles it.
Documents required
About you
- Name, address and nationality of the applicant and the author
- PAN; for a company or LLP, the certificate of incorporation
- Power of attorney if we file as your agent
About the work
- Title and language of the work
- Two copies if the work is unpublished (Rule 70(4))
- Source code and object code for software (Rule 70(5))
Rights papers
- No-objection certificate from the author if the owner applies (Rule 70(3))
- Signed assignment deed for commissioned or bought work (Section 19)
- Publisher’s NOC, if a publisher holds rights
How it works
Confirm the author and the owner
We check who wrote the work and who owns it now. Here is the catch: a startup that paid a freelancer for its app but signed nothing does not own that code yet. We fix the paperwork first.
File Form XIV with the text
We file Form XIV and the Statement of Particulars online with the copies and the ₹500 fee. You get a diary number the same day.
Wait out the 30-day notice period
Rule 70(9) requires notice to anyone with an interest in the work. Under Rule 70(10), the Registrar proceeds only if no objection arrives within thirty days.
Answer the examiner and get the entry
If the examiner raises a discrepancy, we reply on the portal. Rule 70(12) guarantees a hearing before any rejection. Once cleared, the work is entered in the Register.
Timelines
Filing
One to three working days once we have the final text and ownership papers.
Objection window
A fixed thirty days from when the Copyright Office receives the application.
Examination
This depends on the Copyright Office queue. We track it for you.
Book, article or code: what to file
| Work | What goes with Form XIV | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Book or e-book | Two copies if unpublished | Rights under your publishing deal |
| Article, blog or column | The text as published or written | Staff work for a newspaper: Section 17(a) |
| Software or app | Source code and object code (Rule 70(5)) | Freelancer code: written assignment under Section 19 |
What happens if someone copies your work
Criminal complaint
Section 63: six months to three years in prison and a fine of ₹50,000 to ₹2 lakh for knowing infringement.
Civil suit
You can seek an injunction, damages and an account of profits. The register entry helps prove ownership early.
Without registration
In practice, you still own the work but must prove authorship from old drafts and emails. That is slow.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register a book before it is published?
Yes, an unpublished book can be registered, and many authors do it before sharing the manuscript. Rule 70(4) of the Copyright Rules, 2013 asks for two copies of an unpublished work with the application. The fee is the same ₹500. If you publish later, the registration still stands and keeps its date.
What is the government fee for a literary work?
The government fee is ₹500 per literary work, under the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013. If the literary work is used in relation to goods or services, such as a slogan on a label, the fee is ₹2,000. Changing registered particulars later costs ₹200 per work. Each work needs its own Form XIV, and we confirm the category before filing.
Can software be registered as a literary work?
Yes, software is registered as a literary work, because Section 2(o) includes computer programmes in that definition. Rule 70(5) requires the source code and object code with the application. The fee is ₹500 per programme. If an outside developer wrote the code, get a written assignment under Section 19 first, so your company can apply as owner.
Can I copyright a book title or a story idea?
No, copyright protects the way you express an idea, not the bare idea or plot. A short title is rarely enough to count as a literary work on its own. If the title is your brand, such as a book series name, registering it as a trade mark gives better cover. We can file both together.
Who owns an article written by an employee?
Under Section 17(c), the employer owns work made in the course of employment, unless the contract says otherwise. Section 17(a) has a special rule for newspaper and magazine staff: the proprietor owns the right to publish in the periodical, and the writer keeps the rest. We read your appointment letter and draft the right NOC.
Does a publishing contract affect registration?
Yes, if the contract assigns copyright, the publisher may be the owner for the rights and period stated. Section 19(1) requires an assignment in writing. If the period is not stated, Section 19(5) treats it as five years; if the territory is not stated, Section 19(6) treats it as India. We read the contract and file in the right name.
How long does copyright in a literary work last?
It lasts for the author’s lifetime plus sixty years. Under Section 22, the sixty years run from the beginning of the calendar year after the author dies. For a co-written book, the count starts from the death of the last surviving author. No renewal is needed at any point in that term.
Can a ghostwritten or co-authored book be registered?
Yes. Co-authors can apply together as joint authors. For a ghostwritten book, the ghostwriter is the author in law, so the person named on the cover applies as owner. Rule 70(3) then needs an NOC from the author, backed by a written assignment. With both papers on file, you apply in your own name.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
Government fees: ₹500 per literary work, ₹2,000 if used in relation to goods or services, ₹200 to change particulars.
Ready to begin?
Send us the manuscript, article or code and tell us who wrote it. We handle the rest.