Copyright Registration for Books in India
Literary works · Copyright Act, 1957 · Form XIV, ₹500 per work
A book is a literary work under the Copyright Act, 1957, and copyright belongs to the author from the moment it is written. Registering it with the Copyright Office on Form XIV costs ₹500 per work and places an entry in the Register of Copyrights that is prima facie evidence of authorship and ownership (Section 48). Registration is optional, but it is useful before sending a manuscript to publishers, licensing translations or acting against piracy.
- Reviewed by
- Registered Trade Marks Agent
- Last updated
- Authorship settled. Co-authors, ghostwriters and illustrators identified and documented.
- Publisher terms read. Assignment or licence, territory, duration and royalties checked.
- Text and art filed correctly. The book and its illustrations in the right categories.
- Vashi, Navi MumbaiOur office, Sector 30A
- Since 2008Filing with IP India
- Copyright OfficeForm XIV, objections and hearings
- Logo protectionCopyright and trademark together
Copyright registration for books at a glance
- Category
- Literary work (illustrations and cover art are artistic works)
- Form
- Form XIV with a Statement of Particulars
- Government fee
- ₹500 per work
- Published or not
- Both published books and unpublished manuscripts can be registered
- Term
- Author’s lifetime plus 60 years
What parts of a book does copyright protect?
Copyright protects the text as written, and separately each original illustration, photograph, map or chart in it, and the cover artwork. A translation, an abridgement or a dramatisation is a new work in its own right, but making one needs the permission of the owner of the original.
It does not protect the title, the general idea or plot, historical facts, or a style. Titles of series and imprints can often be protected as trademarks instead. Quoting from other works is allowed only within fair dealing for purposes such as criticism and review, with acknowledgement (Section 52); longer extracts need permission.
Should the author or the publisher register the book?
| Situation | Who usually applies | Documents |
|---|---|---|
| Self-published book | The author | Copy of the book; ISBN details if any |
| Traditional publishing under a licence | The author, who keeps the copyright | Publisher’s NOC if the book is published by them |
| Copyright assigned to the publisher | The publisher | The written assignment from the author |
| Ghostwritten or commissioned book | The person who holds a written assignment | Assignment from the writer; without it the writer is the owner |
| Co-authored book | The joint authors together, or one with the others’ NOC | Details of every co-author |
What should an author check in a publishing contract?
Whether it is an assignment or a licence. An assignment transfers ownership of the rights it covers; a licence only permits the publisher to use them. Under Section 19 an assignment must be in writing and should identify the work, the rights assigned, the duration, the territory and the royalty.
Several default rules apply when the contract is silent, and they favour authors:
- If the duration is not stated, the assignment is treated as being for five years.
- If the territory is not stated, it is treated as India only.
- If the assignee does not exercise the rights within one year, the assignment is treated as lapsed unless the contract says otherwise.
Check also who controls translation, audio and film rights, what happens if the book goes out of print, and how and when royalty statements are sent.
How do you register copyright in a book?
Before filing
Confirm authorship and ownership
Every author, illustrator and contributor, and any assignment to a publisher.
Day 1
File Form XIV online
With the Statement of Particulars, a copy of the manuscript or book, NOCs where needed, and the fee. A diary number issues.
30 days
Objection period
Any person may object within 30 days.
After 30 days
Examination
The Office examines the application and may raise a discrepancy letter.
On approval
Registration
The book is entered in the Register of Copyrights and the extract issued.
What documents are needed to register a book?
The work
- The manuscript or the published book, as a digital copy
- Title, language and year and country of first publication, if published
- Details of illustrations, photographs or other artwork included
Consents
- Publisher’s NOC, if the publisher is not the applicant
- Co-authors’ NOCs, if only one author applies
- Illustrator’s NOC or assignment, for artwork owned by the applicant
- Power of attorney if an agent files for you
An ISBN is not copyright registration
An ISBN identifies an edition for the book trade and libraries. It records nothing about who owns the copyright, and it gives no legal protection. A book can have an ISBN, a copyright registration, both or neither.
Book copyright FAQs
Should I register my manuscript before sending it to publishers?
It is a sensible step. Registration fixes the date and your authorship on the record, which helps if a dispute arises later. Publishers rarely copy manuscripts, but proof costs little.
Can I register an e-book?
Yes. An e-book is a literary work like a printed book, and is registered the same way with a digital copy.
Do I need permission to publish a translation?
Yes, from the owner of the original work, unless its copyright has expired. The translation itself is then a separate work that can be registered.
Can I register a book written under a pen name?
Yes. For a pseudonymous work, copyright lasts 60 years from publication unless the author’s identity is disclosed, in which case it lasts for the author’s life plus 60 years (Section 23).
Is each book in a series registered separately?
Yes. Each book is a separate work with its own application and fee. The series title can be protected as a trademark.
How long does copyright in a book last?
For the author’s lifetime plus 60 years, counted from the start of the year after the author’s death (Section 22). For co-authored books, it runs from the death of the last surviving author.