How to Copyright a Song in India: Fees, Forms and Steps

To copyright a song in India you do not strictly need to do anything: under the Copyright Act, 1957, copyright arises automatically the moment you create an original work, and registration is optional. But if you want proof that stands up in court, you register with the Copyright Office in New Delhi by filing Form XIV online, once for each work, paying Rs 500 for the musical work (the composition) and Rs 2,000 for the sound recording (the recorded track). After a 30-day objection window, the Registrar enters your work in the Register of Copyrights. This guide walks through what a song actually is in legal terms, what to register, the fees, the steps and what happens next.

More facts

• Copyright in India is automatic; registration is not compulsory, but a registration certificate serves as prima facie evidence in a court dispute, according to the Copyright Office handbook.
• Registration of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work costs Rs 500 per work; a sound recording costs Rs 2,000 per work (Copyright Rules, 2013, Second Schedule).
• Every application is filed in Form XIV and covers one work only (Rule 70).
• If no objection is received within 30 days, the Registrar can enter the work in the Register of Copyrights (Rule 70(10)).
• A musical work does not include the lyrics, and a sound recording is a separate work from the composition it is based on (Copyright Office musical works manual).

What copyright protects in a song

Indian law does not treat "a song" as a single thing. The Copyright Office handbook lists the classes of work protected under the Copyright Act, 1957: literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films and sound recordings. A typical indie track touches at least three of those boxes.

The musical work

The Copyright Office's practice and procedure manual for musical works is blunt about the definition: a musical work is the composition itself and does not include the lyrics or any sounds. It is the melody, harmony and arrangement as authored, and it receives the full set of rights under copyright law, just like a literary, dramatic or artistic work.

The lyrics

Because the musical work excludes the words, the lyrics are a separate piece of authorship from the composition. If one member of your band writes the words and another writes the tune, they are each authors of different works, which matters later when you sign publishing or label deals.

The sound recording

A sound recording is the recording of sounds from which sound may be produced. The same manual notes that a sound recording is usually based on a musical work, and in such cases the author of the sound recording is required to obtain permission from the owner of the musical work. The manual also says applicants often struggle to tell musical works and sound recordings apart, which is why it devotes a whole section to the difference. For independent artists who write, record and release their own music, you will typically own both.

Do you need to register at all

No. The Copyright Office handbook states that acquisition of copyright is automatic and does not require any formality, so registration is not necessary to claim copyright. The catch is evidence. The handbook explains that the certificate of registration and the entries in the Register of Copyrights serve as prima facie evidence in a court of law when a dispute over ownership arises.

In practice, unregistered artists rely on dated session files, emails, release metadata and distributor records to prove authorship. That can work, but a certificate shifts the burden onto the other side. If you are about to sign a label, publishing or sync deal, or your song is gaining traction, registration is cheap insurance. The stakes are not hypothetical in the Indian scene: The Indian Music Diaries has reported on the payment standoff between the creators of "Enjoy Enjaami" and the label Maajja, a reminder of how much depends on who owns what.

How long copyright lasts

The handbook gives the general rule as 60 years. For original literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, which covers your composition and lyrics, the 60-year period is counted from the year following the death of the author. For sound recordings, the 60 years are counted from the date of publication, so a master's protection does not depend on anyone's lifespan.

Fees to copyright a song in India

The fees are set by the Second Schedule of the Copyright Rules, 2013. The ones that matter to musicians:

• Registration of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work: Rs 500 per work. This covers a composition and, separately, a set of lyrics.
• Registration of a sound recording: Rs 2,000 per work.
• Registration of a cinematograph film: Rs 5,000 per work, relevant if you want to register a music video as a film.
• Change in particulars of a registered musical or literary work: Rs 200 per work.
• Change in particulars of a registered sound recording: Rs 1,000 per work.

Rule 83 of the Copyright Rules says fees can be settled electronically, or by demand draft or banker's cheque in favour of the Registrar of Copyrights drawn on a scheduled bank in New Delhi. A document filed without the full fee is treated as not filed.

So a self-written, self-recorded single, registered completely, costs Rs 500 for the composition, Rs 500 for the lyrics and Rs 2,000 for the master: Rs 3,000 in government fees.

How to copyright a song in India, step by step

1. Decide which works you are registering

List the composition, the lyrics and the recording separately and note who authored each. Rule 70(2) of the Copyright Rules requires every application to be in respect of one work only, so a three-part song means up to three applications.

2. Get no objection certificates where needed

Rule 70(3) says an application must be signed by the applicant, who may be the author or the owner of the right. If the owner of the copyright is not the author, for example a label or your band's company filing on behalf of a lyricist, the application must enclose an original no objection certificate from the author. Collect these from co-writers and featured lyricists before you start.

3. File Form XIV online

Every application for registration is made in Form XIV (Rule 70(1)). Rules 70(8) and 81 allow filing in person, by post or through the online filing facility on the Copyright Office website, copyright.gov.in, which is the route most artists use.

4. Attach copies of the work

Rule 70(4) requires two copies of the work for an unpublished work. For a composition this usually means notation or a recording of the composition; for a sound recording, the recording itself. Keep your files clearly labelled with the title used in the form.

5. Pay the fee

Pay Rs 500 or Rs 2,000 per work, as set out in the Second Schedule, electronically or by demand draft (Rule 83).

6. Notify interested parties

Rule 70(9) requires the applicant to give notice of the application to every person who claims or has an interest in the subject matter, or who disputes the applicant's rights. If a producer, co-writer or former bandmate might have a claim, they should hear about it from you.

7. Wait out the objection period

Under Rule 70(10), if the Registrar of Copyrights receives no objection within 30 days of the application, and is satisfied the particulars are correct, the work is entered in the Register of Copyrights. If someone objects, or the Registrar has doubts, Rule 70(11) allows an inquiry, and Rule 70(12) guarantees you a hearing before any rejection.

Registration, publishing and royalties are different things

Registering your song proves ownership. It does not collect money. Royalties for public performance and broadcast of compositions and recordings are handled by collecting bodies, which we cover in our guide to IPRS, PPL and Novex for indie musicians.

Publishing is another layer. Prateek Kuhad, pictured on this page, signed a publishing deal with the Los Angeles-based company Cutcraft Music and in 2020 became the first Indian artist signed by the American label Elektra Records, according to his Wikipedia biography. Deals like that only work cleanly when the songwriter can show exactly which works they own. If you are weighing a label offer, read our explainer on who owns Indian indie music masters first.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Registering only the recording. The master and the composition are different works; a cover version or a remix touches the composition, not your master.
• Filing as the band when one person wrote the song. Authorship is personal; use no objection certificates if a company or the band will own the rights.
• Forgetting co-writers. Rule 70(9) notice exists so disputes surface early; an unhappy co-writer can object within the 30 days.
• Assuming registration stops AI training or sampling. Questions around machine-generated music are still evolving; see our piece on AI music and copyright in India.

FAQ

Is it mandatory to register copyright for a song in India?

No. Copyright is automatic once the work is created. Registration is optional, but the certificate is prima facie evidence of ownership in court, according to the Copyright Office handbook.

How much does it cost to copyright a song in India?

Rs 500 per literary or musical work and Rs 2,000 per sound recording, under the Second Schedule of the Copyright Rules, 2013. A fully registered self-written single costs about Rs 3,000.

Can I copyright a song online in India?

Yes. Rule 70(8) of the Copyright Rules allows applications through the online filing facility on the Copyright Office website, as well as in person or by post.

How long does song copyright registration take?

There is a mandatory 30-day window for objections under Rule 70(10). If nobody objects and the particulars are correct, the Registrar enters the work in the Register; objections lead to an inquiry and hearing.

Do I need separate registrations for lyrics, music and recording?

Yes. Each application covers one work only (Rule 70(2)), and the Copyright Office manual says the musical work does not include the lyrics, while the sound recording is a separate work.

Sources

• Copyright Office, "A Handbook of Copyright Law"
• Copyright Office, The Copyright Rules 2013, Second Schedule
• Copyright Office, The Copyright Rules 2013, Chapter XIII
• Copyright Office, The Copyright Rules 2013, Chapter XVIII
• IP India, "Practice and Procedure Manual 2018: Musical Works"
• The Indian Music Diaries, "He Said, They Said: 'Enjoy Enjaami' Creators and Maajja Label in Payment Standoff"
• Wikipedia, "Prateek Kuhad"

Cover photo: Prateek Kuhad / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).