Copyright
Copyright
Your original creation — whether a novel, song, photograph, software code, or film — tells a unique story. Without proper legal protection, however, that story can be copied, reused, or exploited without your consent.
At Chandrakant M. Joshi, we help creators and businesses secure and enforce their rights under India’s copyright law — ensuring your creative expression remains exclusively yours.
What Can Be Protected?
Under the Copyright Act, 1957, protection extends to a wide range of works:
- Literary Works — Books, articles, poems, computer programs
- Dramatic works and their accompanying music
- Musical compositions — lyrics and/or melody
- Artistic works — paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures
- Cinematograph films and sound recordings
Key Criterion: The work must be an original expression fixed in a tangible or digital medium.
Duration of Protection
- Literary, musical, artistic, and dramatic works: Author’s lifetime + 60 years (from the year following their death).
- Cinematograph films, sound recordings, photographs, anonymous/pseudonymous works:60 years from publication.
- Registration is not mandatory but it serves as strong evidence of ownership and simplifies enforcement in legal proceedings.
Process of Copyright
flowchart TD
A["Filing of Application along with fee (DD)"]
B["Issue of Diary No."]
C["30 days mandatory waiting for objections"]
D{"Objection Filed (Y/N)?"}
E["Scrutinization by Examiner"]
F{"Discrepancy (Y/N)?"}
G["Discrepancy letter issued to applicant"]
H["Reply from applicant"]
I["Hearing by Registrar due to rejection"]
J{"Registration Approved (Y/N)? (Dy. Registrar)"}
K["Registration Approved"]
L["Sending Extracts from Register to the Applicant"]
M["Application rejected"]
N["Sending Rejection letter to the Applicant"]
O["Sending Letter to both parties"]
P["Reply from both parties"]
Q["Hearing by Registrar"]
R{"Application Accepted (Y/N)?"}
S["Application accepted (Objections rejected)"]
T["End of Flow"]
A --> B -->C --> D
D --> |No objection| E --> F
D --> |Objection filed| O --> P --> Q --> R
R --> |Application accepted| S --> E
R --> |Application rejected| M
F --> |No Discrepancy Found| J
F --> |Discrepancy Found| G --> H --> I --> J
J --> |Yes| K -->L --> T
J --> |No| M --> N --> T
linkStyle default stroke:#800020, stroke-width:2px;
classDef node fill:#fff,stroke:#800020,color:#111,stroke-width:2px;
class A,B,C,D,E,F,G node;
Why Copyright Matters
Copyright protection empowers creators to retain control over how their work is used, shared, and monetized. It encourages innovation and artistic expression by ensuring that those who invest time, skill, and creativity are fairly rewarded. In an age of rapid digital sharing and global accessibility, copyright serves as a vital safeguard — preserving originality, preventing misuse, and fostering a culture of respect for intellectual property.
- Protects original literary, artistic, musical, and creative works.
- Gives creators control over reproduction, distribution, and licensing.
- Generates revenue through royalties, licensing, and assignments.
- Provides legal recognition and enforceable proof of ownership.
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Global Recognition
We are proud members of leading international IPR associations across the USA, UK, Germany, and Japan, actively participating in global IP forums. Our affiliations enable us to offer clients access to international best practices and informed global protection strategies.
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