Copyright: An Overview A copyright is essentially a right not to copy someone’s work. A copyright gives the owner of the subject an exclusive right over his work. If a work is protected by copyright, no one can imitate, copy or reproduce the original work in any other way. The term of copyright in India is 60 years. Copyright can be taken for the following works: - Music - Books - Manuscripts - Films - Fashion Designs - Training Manuals - Software - Literary Work - Performance - Paintings etc Eligibility Copyright registration can be obtained for any works related to literature, drama, music, artwork, film, or sound recording. Copyrights are given to mainly three classes of work, and each class has its distinctive right under the copyright act. Original literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works comprise the copyright for books, music, painting, sculpture, etc. Cinematography films are another class of copyright that consists of any work of visual recording on any medium. Sound recordings have a distinctive class under the copyright act that consists of a recording of sounds, regardless of the medium on which such recording is made or the method by which the sound is produced. Benefits of acquiring Copyright Registration - Provides Legal Protection The creators enjoy legal protection when their work is reproduced without authorization. Registering a Copyright makes it much easier to protect the original work against infringement. - Market Presence Copyright registration creates a public record of the work, and proof of ownership is established for the creative work. - Rights Of The Owner The owner of the registered copyright gets the rights to reproduce, disseminate and adapt and translate the work. Documents Required - PAN Card - Aadhaar Card - Incorporation Certificate - Company PAN - Company TAN - NOC from Publisher - NOC from Author