Overview
Copyright protects original literary, artistic, musical and software works under the Copyright Act, 1957. Protection arises automatically on creation, but registration provides strong evidence of ownership.
Key points
- Covers literary, artistic, musical, cinematographic works and software
- Protection exists on creation, and registration provides evidence in disputes
- Registration is filed with the Copyright Office
- Typically applicable for the life of the author plus 60 years for many works
- Useful for assignments, licensing and enforcement
Typical documents required
- Copy of the work to be registered
- Applicant and author details
- Statement of originality
- No-objection certificate if the author is a different person
How we work
Work classification and assessment
Application filing with Copyright Office
Waiting period and objection handling
Registration certificate
Frequently asked questions
Is copyright registration compulsory?
No, but it is valuable evidence of ownership and helps when enforcing your rights.
Can software be registered?
Yes. Software is protected as a literary work under copyright law.
This page gives general information and is not legal or tax advice. Requirements change, so confirm current rules for your situation with us before acting.