Copyright Registration

Major Functions of Intellectual Property Organization:

1. Manage and organize all Government structures for the better protection and support of Intellectual Property (IP);
2. Management and strengthening of IP offices in Pakistan
3. Working and Creating awareness in Society about their IP Rights;
4. Counseling of Federal Government in relation to IP Policy implementation;
5. Confirming active implementation of IP rights through nominated IP Enforcement Agencies (Police, FIA, and Pakistan Customs)
6. Protect the Intellectual Property system and Rules and Regulations prevailing in Pakistan

How copyright protects your work

Copyright protects your original work and restricts others from;

• Making copy of your Work
• Distribution of Copies of your work whether Free of Charge or Sale Price
• Work giving on Rent or Lend
• Performing or playing your work in general public
• Making versions of your work
• Placement of work on the Internet

Copyright, Trademark, and Patent comparison

Copyright registration in Pakistan with IPO protects the original work of an author, while a patent protects discoveries. A Trademark safeguards a word, phrase, design that categorizes and segregates the source of the goods of one party from others. A service mark is a phrase, word or sign that classifies and differentiates the basis of a service rather than goods.

Things protected under Copyright

The following may be protected under Copyright Rues 1967 with IPO in Pakistan.

1. Cinematography film and documentaries
2. Musical work and Sound recordings
3. Artistic work like paintings, maps, charts, photographs, sculptures, Label Designs
4. Original literary Books, Dictionaries, Journals, Lectures, Computer Programs, IT Software, Data, etc
5. Broadcasts on different channels
6. Published editions
7. Catalogues
8. Research Work, Newspapers, User Manuals, etc

Basic Requirements for Copyright Registration in Pakistan

Copyright Registration is an assurance of legal protection of goodwill and restricts others against illegal copies of the work of the author in Lahore and all other cities of Pakistan.

Necessary Details of Copyright Applicants in Pakistan

1. Name, address, and Nationality of the Applicant required before filing Copyright registration Application in Pakistan. In the case of a Company or Firm, incorporation certificate and the Registration certificate needed.
2. Soft Copies and CDs: Applicant must provide a soft copy of his/her work and all files optionally in PDF, JPEG, JPG, or GIF format. In the case of computer program Copyright registration, CDs or DVDs of the particular computer programs must provide.
3. Power of Attorney: A Power of Attorney in favor of authorized firm or advocate, rightfully signed by the Applicant is mandatory before filing Copyright Registration Application in Lahore and all other cities of Pakistan.

Documents Required for Copyright Registration in Pakistan

• Name, Address, Business Name and Nationality of the Applicant – Copy of CNIC
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the publisher in casework is already published, and the publisher is not similar who is applying for Copyright Registration.
• Search Report from Trade Mark Office if any
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from a person whose photographs appear on the artistic work
• Power of Attorney in favor of authorized Firm or Advocate signed by Applicant
• 4 Copies of work
• Pay order or Demand Draft in the name of Director General IPO Pakistan
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the author if the Applicant is different from the author

Advantages of Copyright Registration in Pakistan

1. Legal Protection in the Court of Law
2. Branding and Goodwill in the Market
3. Global Protection
4. Restricts Infringement or reproduction of Work
5. Creation of Intangible Asset
6. Life time Protection plus 50 Years even after the Death of Author
7. Market Place Credibility
8. Uniqueness in Identity
9. Brand Control and Consistency

Procedure for How to Register Copyright in Pakistan

1. An application along with (all the particulars and statements of the particulars) and requisite copyright filing fees sent to the registrar IPO. Every Application signed by the Applicant and an Advocate in whose favor a Power of Attorney executed. A separate application should file in case of more than one works.
2. If there are no objections received within 30 days, the Examiner will analyze the filed Application for any discrepancy. If no discrepancy found, the registration application will be accepted and further send to the Registrar for the entry in the Register and issuance of Copyright Certificate.
3. The Registrar will issue a Dairy No. and send a Notice of Copyright Publication in the Newspaper after newspaper publication there is a mandatory waiting time for some period for any objections to be received.
   If any objection/ opposition is received, then Registrarsends a letter to both the parties about the objections and will give both of them a chance of hearing.
   After the hearing, if both the parties are satisfied on one platform and objections are amicably resolved, the Registrar will give its decision to finalize the Copyright Application with approval or rejection as the case may be.