Services

 

Copyright

Our core services include:

  • Copyright Filing and Registration
  • Infringement and Validity / Invalidity Opinion
  • Assignments, NDAs, and licensing

A copyright is a type of intellectual property protection that covers works of art and similar things. This includes writing, illustrations, music, films, and just about any other artistic expression of ideas or concepts. Copyright, is a bundle of rights, which grants protection to the unique expression of ideas. Ideas per se cannot be protected; it is the expression of ideas in a material medium that is the subject matter of copyright protection.

Copyright registration in India is governed by the Copyright Act, 1957 and the Copyright Rules, 1958.

Copyright Filing and Prosecution
For the protection of an expression of any idea, we are able to help you with filing a Copyright Application and obtaining a Copyright Certificate.

Use
Copyright registration provides a time-stamp for validation of creation of an expression of an idea. The grant of a copyright entails one to use of the copyright symbol ©.

Copyright Opposition
Copiers, infringers of the copyrighted content can be challenged in a court of law, in an expeditious manner, whilst armed with a copyright registration certificate.

Term of a Copyright
Copyright term based on authors' deaths - Life + 60 years (except posthumous works)
Copyright term based on publication and creation dates - 60 years from publication (posthumous works, photographs, cinematograph films, sound recordings, works of public undertakings, and works of international organisations)

Renewal
No renewal

Anti-piracy measures

Our core services include:

Copyright Filing and Registration
From filing to obtaining the certificate, we are poised to take on such tasks, promptly.

Infringement and Validity / Invalidity Opinion
As a part of our consultation offerings, we may be able to offer you sound opinions relating to whether a copyrighted matter has infringed any other identified copyrighted matter. Thus, pre-emptive or cautionary action in relation to the Copyrighted work can begin at a very early stage.

Assignments, NDAs, and licensing
Transfer of copyrights and any business relating to the commerce and economics or commercialization of any copyrighted content requires a lot of paperwork. Our lawyers and paralegal staff are qualified to take care of the legal nuances of any such tasks.

What is a copyright?

The domain of copyright extends to original literary (which includes computer programmes) dramatic, musical, artistic, cinematographic films and sound recording. Copyright assumes supreme importance for authors, artists, architects, composers, music production companies and producers, film production companies, computer programmers and designers. An author, an artist, a composer or a designer looks forward to the commercial benefits accruing from his work, apart from the intellectual satisfaction derived from creating the work. Many a times, unscrupulous traders copy best sellers, or produce pirated versions of a hit-movie or chart topping sound track and sell it at a price that is just a fraction of the original work. This in turn, eats into the commercial benefits that the author of an original work rightly expects and deserves. Copyright law comes in here and secures the interests of the author, punishes the infringer and thus provides incentive to the creation of original works. A copyright can be transferred or can be assigned or licensed for a consideration. Copyright, unlike the other Intellectual Property rights does not require any formal procedures as such and affords protection during the lifetime of the author and sixty-years thereafter.

For literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work, the author, who created the work, is the first owner of the economic rights under copyright. However, where such a work is made in the course of employment, the employer is the first owner of these rights, unless an agreement to the contrary has been made with the author.

For a film, the principal director and the film producer are joint authors and first owners of the economic rights and similar provisions as referred to above apply where the director is employed.

For a sound recording the record producer is the author and first owner of copyright; in the case of a broadcast, the broadcaster; and in case of a published edition, the publisher.

 

What can be copyrighted?

Copyright now covers a wide range of works, including maps, sheet music, dramatic works, paintings, photographs, architectural drawings, sound recordings, motion pictures and computer programs.

 

What rights do I get after the grant of my copyright?

Copyright registration provides a time-stamp for validation of creation of an expression of an idea. The grant of a copyright entails one to use of the copyright symbol ©.

 

Who should file a copyright?

An author (of the content which can be copyrighted) may file for a copyright application. On the other hand, the author may provide a No Objection letter and an Applicant on his behalf may own the copyright.