Copyright Registration Cost Calculator
Work out the government fee to register your copyright in India — official fee per work, live on one screen.
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- Built by our CA · CS team
- Rules cited on the page
Enter your figures — the result on the right updates as you type.
Cost breakdown
Per applicationGet your copyright registered by our experts
We draft Form XIV, file with the Copyright Office and handle the 30-day objection window for you.
Disclaimer: Indicative estimate. Government fees are per the Copyright Rules, 2013 (as amended). Government fees only — professional fees are not included. Copyright arises automatically on creation; registration is prima-facie evidence of ownership.
What copyright registration costs in India
The government cost is the statutory government fee, fixed per work by the Copyright Rules. It depends only on the type of work; the number of works multiplies it. Government fees only — professional fees are not included.
Government fee by type of work
These are the official statutory fees per work under Schedule 2 of the Copyright Rules. The fee is charged for each separate application — registering several works means paying the fee that many times.
| Type of work | Govt fee |
|---|---|
| Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (not for goods) | ₹500 |
| Artistic work used on goods or services (commercial) | ₹2,000 |
| Software / computer program | ₹500 |
| Cinematograph film | ₹5,000 |
| Sound recording | ₹2,000 |
Worked examples
Total government cost = government fee × number of works. Here is the government fee for a single-work registration across three common categories.
Key terms explained
Registration is evidence, not creation
Copyright arises automatically the moment an original work is created. Registration is not compulsory — but a registration certificate is prima-facie evidence of ownership in court and is invaluable in infringement disputes.
Form XIV
The application for copyright registration is filed in Form XIV with a Statement of Particulars. Each work is a separate application with its own government fee.
30-day objection window
After filing, there is a mandatory 30-day waiting period for objections. If none are received (or objections are resolved), the Registrar examines and registers the work.
Term of protection
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, copyright lasts the author's life plus 60 years. Films, sound recordings and photographs are protected for 60 years from publication.
Questions people ask
Short answers on Copyright Registration Cost. Tap a question to open it.
01Is copyright registration compulsory in India?
No. Copyright exists automatically the moment an original work is created in a tangible form. Registration is optional but gives you a public record and a certificate that is prima facie evidence in any infringement proceeding.
02What does copyright registration cost?
The government fee depends on the category — the fee for a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work is modest, while an artistic work used in relation to goods or services (a label or logo) costs more per work.
03How long does copyright registration take?
There is a mandatory 30-day waiting period after filing for objections. With no objection, registration is usually granted within a few months; an objection or a discrepancy adds a hearing and can extend it considerably.
04How long does copyright protection last?
For literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, the author's lifetime plus 60 years. For films, sound recordings, photographs and works of government or international organisations, 60 years from publication.
05Should software be registered as copyright or as a patent?
Source code is protected by copyright and can be registered as a literary work with the required portions of code filed. A computer programme as such is not patentable in India unless it demonstrates a technical effect together with hardware.
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Disclaimer: This tool gives indicative results for general guidance only and is not professional advice. Please verify with a qualified CA before acting on the numbers.