Any literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works including cinematograph films and sound recordings can be copyrighted.

Copyright protects the expression and not the idea. Therefore, ideas, procedures, methods of operation or mathematical concepts cannot be copyrighted.

No. Copyright protection normally comes into existence as soon as a work is created and without any formality. However, in case there is a dispute with respect to the ownership of a work, then copyright registration would be helpful as it serves as prima facie evidence in the court of law with reference to copyright disputes.

Copyright registration gives the owner of the copyright - the rights of reproduction, communication o the public, and adaptation and translation of the work. Copyright ensures there are safeguards for the rights of authors over their creations.

Any person claiming to be the owner of the work to be copyrighted can apply for copyright registration. The person can be an individual, company, NGO, etc.,

A copy of the work to be registered along with the address and identity proof of the trademark owner is required. In case of Company, the name of the Company along with its Certificate of Incorporation and Address proof is required.

Copyright registration application can be filed with the Copyright Registrar in a matter of days. However, it will typically take 2 to 4 months for the Copyright Registrar to complete their formalities and provide Copyright Registration for the work.

Copyright protection typically lasts for 60 years. In the case of original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works the 60-year period is counted from the year following the death of the author. In the case of cinematograph films, sound recordings, photographs, posthumous publications, anonymous and pseudonymous publications, works of government and works of international organizations, the 60-year period is counted from the date of publication.

Any person who knowingly infringes or abets the infringement of the copyright in any work commits criminal offence under Section 63 of the Copyright Act. The minimum punishment for infringement of copyright is imprisonment for six months with the minimum fine of Rs. 50,000/-. In the case of a second and subsequent conviction the minimum punishment is imprisonment for one year and fine of Rs. one lakh.

A copyright registration is an intellectual property, which can be sold, transferred, gifted, franchised, etc., Copyright registration gives the owner of the work ownership over the work and any person wishing to use the work must obtain the registered copyright owners consent.