Copyright Registration Fees in India (2026)
Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule · Paid to the Copyright Office · Per work
Copyright registration in India costs ₹500 per work for a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, including software; ₹2,000 for an artistic work used on goods or services, such as a logo; ₹2,000 for a sound recording; and ₹5,000 for a film (Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule). The fee is the same for every applicant.
- Reviewed by
- Registered Trade Marks Agent
- Last updated
- Statutory fees only. From the Second Schedule, checked on 15 October 2026.
- Right category chosen. A logo on products is not the same fee as a painting.
- Professional fee in writing. Quoted separately, before anything is filed.
- Vashi, Navi MumbaiOur office, Sector 30A
- Since 2008Filing with IP India
- Copyright OfficeForm XIV, objections and hearings
- Logo protectionCopyright and trademark together
Copyright government fees at a glance
- Schedule
- Second Schedule, Copyright Rules, 2013, as amended on 30 March 2021
- Paid to
- The Copyright Office, with Form XIV (new registration) or Form XV (change in particulars)
- Charged
- Per work: rule 70(2) allows one work per application
- Applicant type
- The same fee for individuals, companies and other applicants
- Last checked
- 15 October 2026, against the Second Schedule on copyright.gov.in
What are the official copyright registration fees?
| Government fee | All applicants |
|---|---|
| Literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work (a computer programme is a literary work)Form XIVper work | ₹500 |
| Artistic work used, or capable of being used, in relation to goods or servicesForm XIVper workSince 30 March 2021 this rate covers artistic works only; a literary work used on goods pays ₹500. | ₹2,000 |
| Sound recordingForm XIVper work | ₹2,000 |
| Cinematograph filmForm XIVper work | ₹5,000 |
Government fees from Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule (Copyright Office), as checked on . Statutory fees only; the firm's professional fee is quoted separately in writing.
Rule 70(2): every application is for one work only and carries its own fee.
Which fee applies to your kind of work?
The fee follows the category of the work, not the applicant. These are the works people ask about most, with the category each falls in and what else the application needs.
| Work | Category under the Act | Fee per work | Also needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Book, article, blog or thesis | Literary work | ₹500 | Two copies if unpublished (rule 70(4)) |
| Computer program or app | Literary work | ₹500 | At least the first 10 and last 10 pages of source code, unredacted, or all of it if under 20 pages (rule 70(5)) |
| Song lyrics | Literary work | ₹500 | The author’s no-objection certificate if the owner, not the author, applies (rule 70(3)) |
| Musical composition | Musical work | ₹500 | Two copies if unpublished (rule 70(4)) |
| Painting, illustration or photograph | Artistic work | ₹500 | Affidavit under rule 70(7) if the work could be registered as a design |
| Logo, label or packaging artwork used on goods or services | Artistic work used in relation to goods or services | ₹2,000 | A search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry on Form TM-C (rule 70(6)) |
| Tagline or slogan used on goods | Literary work | ₹500 | Since 30 March 2021 the higher rate applies to artistic works only |
| Song recording or podcast episode | Sound recording | ₹2,000 | Two copies if unpublished (rule 70(4)); the underlying lyrics and music are separate works |
| Short film, web series episode or ad film | Cinematograph film | ₹5,000 | Two copies if unpublished (rule 70(4)) |
Fees from the Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules, 2013, checked on 15 October 2026; filing requirements from rule 70. Statutory fees only; our professional fee is quoted separately in writing.
What does a typical copyright filing cost in government fees?
Worked examples using the fees above. They exclude professional fees. The logo example includes the separate fee paid to the Trade Marks Registry for the TM-C search certificate.
| Filing | Calculation | Government fees |
|---|---|---|
| A novel or non-fiction book | 1 literary work × ₹500 | ₹500 |
| A mobile app | 1 literary work × ₹500 | ₹500 |
| A song: lyrics, composition and recording | ₹500 (lyrics) + ₹500 (music) + ₹2,000 (sound recording) | ₹3,000 |
| A logo used on products, normal TM-C certificate | ₹2,000 to the Copyright Office + ₹9,000 to the Trade Marks Registry | ₹11,000 |
| A logo used on products, expedited TM-C certificate | ₹2,000 + ₹30,000 | ₹32,000 |
| A short film | 1 cinematograph film × ₹5,000 | ₹5,000 |
| Correcting the author’s name on a registered book | 1 change in particulars, literary work × ₹200 | ₹200 |
TM-C fees are from the Trade Marks Rules, 2017, First Schedule, entry 6 (e-filing), checked on 15 October 2026. Rule 22 of those Rules says the normal certificate is ordinarily issued within 30 working days and the expedited one within 7.
What does it cost to change or correct a copyright registration?
A change in the particulars already entered in the Register of Copyrights, such as a new owner after an assignment, a changed address or a corrected name, is applied for on Form XV under rule 70(1), with the fee below.
| Government fee | All applicants |
|---|---|
| Change in particulars already entered in the Register: literary, dramatic, musical or artistic workForm XVper work | ₹200 |
| Change in particulars already entered in the Register: artistic work used in relation to goods or servicesForm XVper work | ₹1,000 |
| Change in particulars already entered in the Register: sound recordingForm XVper work | ₹1,000 |
| Change in particulars already entered in the Register: cinematograph filmForm XVper work | ₹2,000 |
Government fees from Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule (Copyright Office), as checked on . Statutory fees only; the firm's professional fee is quoted separately in writing.
Under rule 71 the Registrar of Copyrights can also amend the Register on its own motion or on an interested person’s application, after giving the affected person a chance to show cause.
Which costs are not covered by the copyright fee?
The Second Schedule fee covers the registration application only. Depending on the work, you may also need:
- A TM-C search certificate from the Trade Marks Registry for artistic works used on goods or services, at the Trade Marks Rules fee shown in the examples above. See trademark fees.
- Stamp duty on a deed of assignment, set by state law.
- Professional fees for preparing the application, consents and replies, which we quote in writing.
Certified copies of entries in the Register cost ₹500 per copy, and extracts from the Register or its indexes ₹500 per work, under the same Second Schedule.
Copyright fee FAQs
Is the copyright fee charged per application or per work?
Per work. Rule 70(2) allows one work per application, so a song’s lyrics, composition and recording are three applications and three fees.
Do companies pay more than individuals for copyright registration?
No. Unlike trademarks and patents, the copyright fee depends on the category of work, not on who applies.
Why is the fee higher for a logo than for a painting?
The Second Schedule sets ₹2,000 for an artistic work used, or capable of being used, in relation to goods or services. Logos and labels fall into that category; the same artwork kept only as art is ₹500.
Does a slogan used on products pay the ₹2,000 rate?
No. Since the amendment of 30 March 2021 the higher rate applies only to artistic works used on goods or services. A slogan is a literary work and pays ₹500.
What is the copyright fee for software?
A computer program is a literary work, so the fee is ₹500 per work. Each version you want registered separately is a separate work.
Is the copyright fee refundable if the application is rejected or withdrawn?
Treat it as spent once paid. The Copyright Rules, 2013 require the fee with each application (rule 70(2)) and contain no provision for refunding it if the application is objected to, rejected or withdrawn. Rule 70(12) does require a hearing before any rejection.
How do I correct a mistake in my copyright registration certificate?
Apply on Form XV for a change in the particulars entered in the Register, with the fee shown above, from ₹200 for a literary or artistic work. A clerical error can also be corrected by the Registrar under rule 71 and section 49 of the Copyright Act.
How often are copyright fees revised?
Rarely. The current amounts come from the Copyright Rules, 2013, last amended in this respect on 30 March 2021. We recheck them against the Copyright Office each time this page is updated and show the date under each table.