Copyright is the exclusive legal right granted to the creator of an original work, allowing them to reproduce, publish, distribute, perform, or record that work for a fixed period. It protects literary, artistic, musical, audiovisual, and software creations from unauthorized copying or use.
Copyright registration formally records your ownership of a work with the Registrar of Copyrights in Pakistan. While copyright exists automatically when a work is created, registration strengthens your legal position and provides important evidence in disputes.
Copyright applies to original works fixed in a tangible form. Common categories include:
There are circumstances in which copyrighted material may be used without permission, but this is limited. Giving credit, not monetizing the material, or copying from another source does not automatically avoid infringement.
Wadho & Associates assists with each step of the registration process to ensure that your work is properly recorded and protected.
Submit the completed application in the required form along with supporting documents and prescribed fee to the Registrar of Copyrights. Each work requires a separate application.
The Registrar reviews the application and supporting documents. If necessary, declarations and additional affidavits may be submitted to confirm the creator’s rights and ownership.
Once accepted, the Registrar enters the work in the Register of Copyrights and issues a certificate of registration. This certificate is strong evidence of ownership and is useful in legal proceedings.
Copyright in Pakistan is governed by the Copyright Ordinance, 1962. Copying or reproducing protected works without permission may constitute infringement and can expose the infringer to legal action.
Logos with artistic or design elements can be protected through copyright registration as original works of artistic creation.
Copyright protection generally lasts for 50 years from the year following the creator’s death.
The registration process is currently handled through a formal application process with the Registrar of Copyrights in Pakistan.