The author or publisher of, or the owner or any other person interested in the copyright in, any work may make an application in triplicate in the prescribed form II to the Registrar of Copyrights. This application must be accompanied by a copy of the work and the prescribed fee of Rs. 500. The application can be filed either by hand or through registered post.
The applicant will simultaneously send a copy of the application to every other person interested in the copyright of the work, if any. If no objections to such registration are received by the Registrar within 30 days of the receipt of the application by him, he shall register the copyright if he is satisfied about the correctness of the particulars given in the application.
If objections are received by the Registrar within 30 days of the receipt of the application, or, if he is not satisfied about the correctness of the particulars given in the application, he may hold such inquiry as he may deem fit and then register the copyright.
There is no timeline for filing application for registration of copyright, however, it is advisable to file the application as soon as possible. The registration procedure generally does not take long and is completed within 4 to 8 weeks. For further information on registration procedure you may visit the IPO Pakistan website www.ipo.gov.pk. In case of artistic works, after filing the application, the applicant will advertise the work in a newspaper and send two copies of the same to the Registrar. If the Registrar does not receive any objections then the particulars of the work are entered in the Register of Copyrights and a certificate of registration is issued to the applicant.
Source:
ASAD LAW ASSOCIATES
Lahore, Pakistan
www.asadlawassociates.org
