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Software Copyright Registration in India
Register copyright in your computer programme as a literary work under s.13(1)(a) Copyright Act 1957. Form XIV + source/object code deposit. Fee ₹500.
Turnaround
7–14 Days
₹
Starts from
₹2,299
Money-back accuracy
Guaranteed
Total starting from
₹2,299
Professional + estimated government fee
Professional fee₹1,799 starts with
Government fee (est.)₹500
Turnaround7–14 Days
Money-back accuracy. CA/CS specialist. Tracked client portal.
WhatsAppCONFIRMEDverified 25 Aug 2026
Dedicated specialist
CA-led, named point of contact
Tracked client portal
Real-time status, end-to-end
Money-back accuracy
Refile-free if our error
Flat-fee pricing
No hidden charges, ever
About this service
Copyright Registration grants statutory legal protection to original authors, creators, and developers over literary, dramatic, musical, artistic works, and computer software programs under The Copyright Act, 1957. It confers economic rights to reproduce, distribute, and monetize intellectual creations with 60-year statutory validity.
Eligibility & thresholds
Minimum
- Valid identity & address proof of applicant
- Active PAN & registered business premises
- Authorized representative authorization
Maximum
- Compliant under applicable regulatory laws
- No pending statutory disqualifications
- Valid across authorized operational jurisdictions
Statutory floor
- Pre-filing statutory documentation verification
- Official statutory fee schedule as per authority
- Mandatory periodic compliance filings post-approval
What's included
Everything in one transparent fee — no add-ons, no surprises.
Tech-Savvy Legal Experts
Software copyright is highly specialized. Our team comprises IP attorneys with deep technical backgrounds in computer science. We understand the nuances of front-end vs. back-end code, APIs, database schemas, and UI/UX flows, ensuring every critical component of your software architecture is accurately classified and protected.
Source Code Extraction and Formatting
The Copyright Office has strict rules regarding code submission. Submitting an entire repository often leads to rejection. We guide your development team on how to correctly extract, redact (for trade secret protection), and format the required first 10 and last 10 pages of the source and object code to ensure compliance.
Work-for-Hire Compliance Management
Software is rarely built by a single person. We meticulously audit your chain of title, drafting and executing foolproof No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and Assignment Deeds from all your employees, freelance developers, and UI designers to ensure the company holds absolute, undisputed ownership.
Dual Protection Strategies
We don't just protect the code. We implement holistic protection strategies. We register the source code as a Literary Work and simultaneously protect the graphical user interfaces (GUIs), screen displays, and unique visual layouts as Artistic Works, providing multi-layered security.
Swift Discrepancy Resolution
Software applications frequently face technical discrepancies from the Copyright Office regarding code formatting or ambiguous authorship. Our attorneys preempt these issues and, if raised, formulate rapid, technically accurate legal responses to ensure your application is processed without delay.
Secure Digital Handling
We understand that your source code is a highly confidential trade secret. We utilize end-to-end encrypted portals for code transfer and adhere to stringent internal data security protocols. Your proprietary algorithms are never exposed to unauthorized personnel during the filing process.
Government Fee Breakdown
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. All figures verified as of 25 August 2026.
| Fee Component | Amount (₹) | Basis / Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Software Copyright Registration in India Statutory Fee | ₹500 | Official government fee schedule (separate from professional fee)Statutory Authority |
| Total Government Fee | ₹500 | (for default assumptions stated below) |
Government charges only — separate from I-Pro's professional fee. Verified 25 August 2026.
Required documents
Each list identifies exactly what to provide — and what you do not need to submit. Use the accordions to expand.
- ›1. Form XIV application filed electronically on copyright.gov.in — with name of applicant, name and address of author, nationality of author, nature of applicant's interest (author / publisher / assignee / licensee), title of work, language of work, year of publication (if published), name of publisher. 2. **Two copies of the work** (one copy if published — deposited with the application; for unpublished works, two copies of the manuscript). For published literary/dramatic works, three copies of the best edition are required under s.77 for delivery to the National Library, Kolkata and two other specified libraries. 3. Author's name, address, and nationality — with confirmation that the author is alive, or (if deceased) the date of death and the name of the claimant through whom the right is derived. 4. Form XXI Power of Attorney (if filed through an agent / advocate) — signed by the applicant. 5. NOC from co-author — Identity and statutory verification
- ›where there are multiple authors and only some are applicants (s.17 read with s.2 — Identity and statutory verification
- ›). 6. NOC from the publisher where the publisher is not the applicant (s.17 first proviso — assignment of copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work after first publication) — Identity and statutory verification
How it works
Each step is labelled with who performs it — Customer, I-Pro, or the Regulator. Form names are linked to the official portal.
- 1Customer⏱ 1-2 Days
briefs I-Pro on the work — type (literary / dramat...
briefs I-Pro on the work — type (literary / dramatic / musical / artistic / cinematograph film / sound recording), author details, publication status, claimant's interest. - 2I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
conducts a pre-filing search on the copyright.gov....
conducts a pre-filing search on the copyright.gov.in Register of Copyrights search portal to confirm no conflicting earlier registration exists. - 3I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
drafts the Form XIV application with author/claima...
drafts the Form XIV application with author/claimant/work particulars; customer signs Form XXI Power of Attorney. - 4I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
uploads the Form XIV application, two copies of th...
uploads the Form XIV application, two copies of the work, Form XXI, and supporting documents on copyright.gov.in and pays the statutory fee (₹500 per work). - 5I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
issues a **diary number** instantly upon online fi...
issues a **diary number** instantly upon online filing (Rule 71) — confirmation of receipt; diary number is the application reference for all future correspondence. - 6I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
at the Copyright Office examines the application —...
at the Copyright Office examines the application — formalities (Form XIV completeness, fee paid, copies deposited) and substantive s.13 eligibility check (work falls within registrable classes; author/claimant properly identified). - 7I-Pro⏱ 1-2 Days
enters the work in the Register of Copyrights unde...
enters the work in the Register of Copyrights under s.49 / s.70 and issues the **Registration Certificate** (Form XII prescribed for the certificate under Rule 73 of the 1958 Rules — re-designated under the 2013 Rules as the registration entry in the Register; the certificate format is now generated electronically from the Register). Total cycle: typically 8–12 months (no statutory SLA).
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