Copyright Registration Fees in India: Cost, Documents and Charges by Work Type
What you pay the government per work, which documents you need, and where people end up paying more than planned.
Ankit Pandya5 min read
Table of contents8 sections
What you pay the government per work, which documents you need, and where people end up paying more than they planned.
Short answer first. The government fee for copyright registration is Rs 500 per work if you are registering a book, an article, lyrics, a painting or software. A sound recording is Rs 2,000, a film is Rs 5,000, and a logo or artwork used on goods or services is Rs 2,000.
These numbers sit in the Second Schedule of the Copyright Rules, 2013 on copyright.gov.in. The fee is per work, so five works means five fees. If a consultant files for you, their charges come separately, on top of the government amount.
For documents, you mainly need the work itself, your details, and an NOC from the author if you are not the author. Filing and payment are done on the Copyright Office portal. The break-up is below.
Copyright registration fees in India by type of work
Type of work | Registration fee (Rs per work) | Change in particulars (Rs per work) |
Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work | 500 | 200 |
Artistic work used or usable on goods or services (a logo, for example) | 2,000 | 1,000 |
Cinematograph film | 5,000 | 2,000 |
Sound recording | 2,000 | 1,000 |
Fees get revised from time to time, so look at the schedule once before you pay.
Software has no separate entry. It is treated as a literary work, which puts it at Rs 500.
Copyright fees add up because they are charged per work
Take a photographer with 20 photos. If each is filed as its own work, that is Rs 10,000. A writer with two books pays Rs 1,000.
Musicians get caught the most. Lyrics, music and the recording are three different works, so you pay Rs 500, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000. We have written about how to copyright a song in India if you want to see how to split them.
A website is similar. The text, the logo, the photos and the videos can each count as a separate work, each with its own fee.
Copyright registration fee for a logo
Rs 2,000, if the logo is used or will be used on goods or services. You also need a search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry (Form TM-60). Many people call it an NOC, but it is a search certificate.
Copyright covers the artwork only. If someone starts a business under a name close to yours, copyright will not help, because that is a trademark matter. Not sure which one your logo needs? This post on trademark vs copyright for a logo will help.
Documents required for copyright registration
TYPE OF WORK | DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED FOR COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION |
Artistic work | - 2 Copies of work; |
Cinematograph film | - 2 copies of work; |
Musical Work | - 2 copies of Graphical Notes; |
Literary and Dramatic Work | - 2 copies of work; |
Sound Recording | - 2 copies of work; |
Software | - 2 copies of work; |
Along with the work, the application will ask for:
Your name, address and nationality (a company also gives its registration certificate)
Whether you are the author or filing on the author’s behalf
Title, language and a short description of the work
Date of first publication, if it is already published
A specific power of attorney, if an agent is filing for you
Other government fees you may come across
Change in particulars (Form XV): see the table above
Extract from the Register of Copyrights or the indexes: Rs 500 per work
Certified copy of an extract: Rs 500 per copy
Trademark, patent and design filings follow different fee rules. Our post on IP registration fees in India puts them side by side.
And if what you want to protect is a brand name or a tagline, copyright is the wrong tool. You need trademark registration.
What happens after you pay, and how long it takes
You file Form XIV on the portal, pay the fee and get a diary number. Then there is a 30-day window where anyone who claims an interest in the work can object, and you are expected to tell such people about your application. After that, the file goes for examination. If you are filing for the first time, read the step-by-step copyright registration process before you start.
If the Registrar has a query, or someone objects, you get 30 days to reply. Miss that and the application can be treated as abandoned. You then file again and pay again. Of all the ways to lose money here, this is the easiest one to avoid.
There is no fixed timeline. A clean application usually takes two to six months. An objection or a hearing can stretch it further. Your diary number lets you follow the progress, and we have explained how to check your copyright application status online.
Do you really need to register your copyright?
You do not have to. Copyright exists from the moment you create the work. Registration gives you a public record of ownership, and that record is useful when someone copies your work and you need to prove it is yours. For Rs 500 on most works, it is cheap to have. Our post on the 5 benefits of copyright registration covers what it does and what it does not do.
If you would rather not deal with categories and forms yourself, LegalWiz can take care of online copyright registration in India. The government fee is paid at actuals.
Frequently asked questions
Is copyright registration free in India?
No. Copyright registration is not free in India. However, the cost of registering a copyright depends on the type of work you are opting for. The fees for copyright registration of a book, a song, a painting, etc. is INR 500/-
How much does it cost to copyright a name in India?
A name is not covered under copyrights. However, it is protected by trademark registration. Hence, the cost for filing a trademark application as an Individual is Rs. 4500/-. Lastly, for more details you can read Brand Name Registration in India.
Does copyright expire in India?
Yes, the general rule in India is that a copyright is valid for 60 years. However, in all original literary, artistic, musical, and dramatic works, the 60-year period is valid from the date of death of the owner. Although, for all other types of works, it is counted from the date of the first publication of the work.
Is the copyright fee charged per work or per applicant?
Per work. Two books mean two applications and Rs 1,000 in government fees. A song is normally split into lyrics, music and recording, so budget for each part separately. Adding a co-author to the same work generally does not create a second fee, but confirm this with your filer.
Do professional charges come on top of the government fee?
Yes. The Rs 500, Rs 2,000 or Rs 5,000 goes to the Copyright Office. If a consultant or platform files for you, their service fee is separate, and GST applies to it. Ask for the government fee to be shown as its own line so you can match it with the schedule on copyright.gov.in.
How long does it take to get a copyright certificate?
There is no fixed time. After filing there is a 30-day window for objections, then examination. A clean application commonly takes two to six months. An objection, a hearing or a late reply to a query can add several more months, so treat any promised date as an estimate.
What does it cost to correct details after registration?
You apply for a change in particulars using Form XV. The fee is Rs 200 for literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, Rs 1,000 for an artistic work used on goods or services and for a sound recording, and Rs 2,000 for a film. These are charged per work.
Written by
Content & Marketing Manager
Ankit Pandya is a marketing and content strategist with 8 years of experience across FMCG, D2C, and B2B. He writes about content strategy, digital marketing, AI-driven growth, and emerging industry trends, combining practical insights with real-world marketing experience.
All articles by Ankit PandyaServices related to this article
Everything here is handled online by our specialists, start to finish.
Comments