A copyright search in India is public and requires no login. The Copyright Office portal at copyright.gov.in lets anyone look up a registered work by diary number, ROC number, applicant name, or title, check a pending application’s status, and download monthly registration lists.
Quick Answer
• Search a registered work at copyright.gov.in/SearchRoc.aspx by diary number, ROC number, applicant name, or title.
• Track an application’s progress under “Status of the Application” using the diary number issued on filing.
• Browse or download monthly registration lists from the E-Register (2017 to present).
• A screen result is a record, not a certified extract; if you need one for a contract or court filing, the Copyright Office issues certified copies under Section 47 of the Copyright Act 1957.
• Registration is not compulsory in India. Absence from the Register does not mean a work is free to use; it may also mean the work is registered under a different title, a different applicant name, or was filed before the searchable period begins.
• The Register shows the applicant and author at the time of registration. Later assignments, licences, or name changes may not appear in a basic search.
Which search should I use?
| If you have | Use this |
| Diary number | Status of Application or Search Registered Work |
| ROC number | Search Registered Work |
| Title only | Search Registered Work (try spelling variations) |
| Applicant or company name | Search Registered Work (Applicant field) |
| Month or year of registration | E-Register |
| Recent filing, no ROC yet | Fresh Applications or Monthly Applications |
| Work under objection | Objected Application List |
| Artistic label or logo | Search Registered Work + TM-C search |
What a Copyright Search in India Can Show You (and What It Cannot)
The Indian Copyright Office maintains the Register of Copyrights under Section 44 of the Copyright Act 1957. Any person may inspect the Register and take extracts on payment of the prescribed fee under Section 47 and Rule 73. Basic online search currently does not require payment at the portal; the fee language applies to physical inspection and certified extracts.
A search shows whether a particular work appears in the Register, with the applicant and author details, work category, publication status, ROC (Register of Copyrights) number, and registration date. The Register covers works registered from 2012 onwards (verified June 2026). The portal shows particulars as filed; later assignments, licences, or corporate name changes may not appear, so treat the result as a starting point for ownership inquiry rather than a complete chain-of-title report.
Two limits matter for a founder reading a result. First, copyright arises automatically on creation of an original work (Section 45 uses the word “may,” so registration is optional), and a work may be fully protected even if it does not appear in the Register. See our guide on whether your original work is automatically protected by copyright.
Second, a screen result is not a certified extract. Under Section 48, only a copy certified by the Registrar and sealed with the seal of the Copyright Office is admissible in evidence in all courts without further proof. A screenshot is adequate for internal due diligence; for contracts or litigation, request a certified copy (see the final section).
For a full account of what copyright protects and how long it lasts, see our guide on copyright law in India.
Search a Registered Work by Diary Number, ROC, Title, or Applicant
The Search Registered Work tool at copyright.gov.in/SearchRoc.aspx is the starting point for anyone who wants to look up a specific registered copyright in India.
How to use it. Open the page and select one or more of the following fields:
- Diary Number: the reference number issued when an application is filed, for example LD-29755/2026-CO. If you already have the diary number, this is the most direct route.
- ROC Number: the registration number assigned once the copyright is entered in the Register.
- Applicant: the name of the person or entity that applied.
- Title of Work: the title as stated on the application.
On submitting the query, the result displays the ROC Number, ROC Date, Diary Number, Work Title, Type of Work, Published status, Applicant Name, and Author Name. You can search across multiple fields together to narrow results.
Reading the diary number prefix. When you search by title or applicant and multiple diary numbers appear, the two-letter prefix tells you the work category without opening each record:
| Prefix | Work Category |
| LD | Literary or Dramatic |
| SW | Software |
| SR | Sound Recording |
| AT | Artistic |
| CF | Cinematograph Film |
This matters practically if you are checking whether a competitor has registered a logo (AT), a software application (SW), or a book (LD), because each category has different scope of protection. For a deeper look at what protection covers for specific work types, see our guides on musical works and photographs.
If no result appears. A null result is inconclusive. The work may be unregistered, registered under a different title or applicant name, filed before 2012 and outside the searchable database, or not yet processed. Try alternate spellings and entity names before drawing any conclusion about whether the work is free to use.
Check the Status of a Pending Application by Diary Number
If you or your team have filed an application and want to track it, or if you want to know where someone else’s published application stands, the portal provides several tools for this.
Status of the Application. From the portal’s left-side navigation under “Online Services,” select “Status of the Application.” Enter the diary number to see the current processing stage of an application.
Fresh Applications. The Fresh Applications page at copyright.gov.in/Fresh_Applications.aspx lists all recently filed applications in reverse chronological order, with the diary number, date of filing, title, applicant name, and work category. This is a publicly visible list, updated as applications are received.
Monthly Applications. The Monthly Applications page at copyright.gov.in/New_Applications.aspx compiles the same information into downloadable PDF documents, one per month, sorted from the first of the month. Each PDF shows diary number, filing date, title, work category, and applicant for every application filed in that month.
| Practitioner Note Once a copyright application is filed, the Registrar of Copyrights sends notice to any third party who may have an objection. Under Rule 70(10) of the Copyright Rules 2013, if no objection is received within thirty days of receipt of the application by the Registrar, and the Registrar is satisfied about the correctness of the particulars, the details are entered in the Register of Copyrights. Checking Fresh Applications and Monthly Applications lets you see recently filed applications during this notice window. |
Find Objected, Expunged, or Rectified Records
The portal carries several tools beyond the basic search that are useful when the status of a work is in dispute or under challenge.
Waiting Applications For Objection. Lists applications that are currently within the thirty-day notice window and have not yet been registered. Available at copyright.gov.in/WaitingApplicationsForObjection.aspx.
Objected Application List. Lists applications where an objection has been filed and the matter is pending hearing or resolution. Available at copyright.gov.in/ObjectedApplication.aspx.
Expunged ROC. The Expunged ROC page at copyright.gov.in/ExpungedROC.aspx lists registrations that have been removed from the Register, either on rectification under Section 50 of the Act or following a court order. If a ROC number that appeared in an earlier search no longer resolves to an active entry, checking this page explains why.
Cancellation/Rectification Petition Notices and Stay Orders by Courts. The portal maintains a separate listing of court-issued cancellation petition notices and stay orders at copyright.gov.in/Cancellation_Petition_Notices.aspx. This is useful for anyone doing clearance work before entering a licence or assignment for a work.
If you are considering a licence or assignment after identifying an owner through the Register, our article on copyright assignment agreements sets out what such documents should cover.
Browse the E-Register and Download Monthly Registration Lists
The E-Register is a downloadable record of every Registration of Copyright (ROC) issued, published month by month. Each PDF lists the diary number, ROC number, date, title, work category, and applicant name for every copyright registered that month.
Where to find it. The E-Register is available at copyright.gov.in/ERegister.aspx. The portal publishes a separate page for each year from 2017 to the present (note: an earlier version of this article stated 2016 as the start year; the earliest year tab on the portal is 2017). As of June 2026, the available months are:
| Year | Status |
| 2017–2025 | Full year, each month available |
| 2026 | January through May published |
The monthly PDFs download directly without any login or payment.
When to use it. The E-Register is most useful when you want to survey all registrations in a particular period rather than search for a specific work. A brand owner checking whether a competitor has recently registered related works, or a business auditing IP assets in a sector, would typically use it alongside the Search Registered Work tool.
Turn a Search Result into a Document You Can Rely On
A result from the Search Registered Work page or a PDF from the E-Register is useful for your own research but is not a certified document in the legal sense.
Section 48 of the Copyright Act provides that the Register of Copyrights is prima facie evidence of the particulars entered in it, but only a copy certified by the Registrar and sealed with the seal of the Copyright Office is admissible in evidence in all courts without further proof or production of the original. A screenshot or a downloaded PDF from the portal does not meet this standard.
How to get a certified extract. Under Rule 74(2) of the Copyright Rules 2013, the Registrar furnishes certified copies of Register entries on application and payment of the fee. If you need a certified copy of a copyright registration in India for a contract, licence, or court proceeding, apply to the Registrar under Rule 74(2) and pay the prescribed fee. The current fee for a certified copy of an extract from the Register or Indexes is Rs. 500 per copy (Second Schedule to the Copyright Rules 2013, item 17, verified June 2026).
Search TM-C for artistic works linked to goods or services. Under the proviso to Section 45 of the Copyright Act, an application for registration of an artistic work that is used or capable of being used in relation to goods or services must be accompanied by a certificate from the Registrar of Trade Marks confirming that no identical or deceptively similar trade mark has been registered by another person. The portal provides a dedicated TM-C search at copyright.gov.in/TM_NOC.aspx to check whether this certificate has been issued for a given artistic work. This check is relevant to the copyright registration requirement only; it is not a substitute for a full trademark clearance search in the relevant classes.
If you are at the stage of registering your own work rather than searching for another’s, our guides on copyright registration procedure in India and cost of copyright registration in India cover the application process and official fees in detail. For questions about using another person’s work once you have identified the owner, our article on fair use and copyright exceptions sets out what is permitted without a licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a copyright search in India?
A copyright search in India is a search of the Register of Copyrights at the Indian Copyright Office portal (copyright.gov.in). Basic online search is currently accessible without login or payment. Certified copies and extracts carry a prescribed fee. Search by diary number, ROC number, applicant name, or title.
Where can I check copyright application status in India?
Copyright application status in India is checked through the “Status of the Application” link on the Indian Copyright Office portal at copyright.gov.in. You need the diary number issued when the application was filed. The Fresh Applications and Monthly Applications pages also show recently filed and published applications.
What is a copyright diary number?
A copyright diary number is the unique reference number assigned to an application when it is received by the Copyright Office. It follows the format prefix-number/year-CO (for example, LD-29755/2026-CO). The two-letter prefix shows the work category: LD (Literary/Dramatic), SW (Software), SR (Sound Recording), AT (Artistic), CF (Cinematograph Film).
How do I find the owner of a registered copyright in India?
The applicant and author of a registered copyright can be found at copyright.gov.in/SearchRoc.aspx by title or applicant name. The result shows name, ROC number, and registration date. Later assignments or name changes may not appear; treat it as a starting point, not proof of current ownership.
Is a copyright search result from the portal admissible in court?
No. Under Section 48 of the Copyright Act 1957, only a copy certified by the Registrar of Copyrights and sealed with the seal of the Copyright Office is admissible in evidence without further proof. A portal result does not meet this standard. Request a certified copy under Rule 74(2) at Rs. 500 per copy (Second Schedule, item 17, verified June 2026).
Does a work need to be registered for copyright to exist?
No. Copyright in India arises automatically on creation of an original work. Registration under Section 45 of the Copyright Act 1957 is optional. A work absent from the Register may still be fully protected, and absence is not proof that the work is free to use.
What is the E-Register on the Copyright Office portal?
The E-Register consists of downloadable PDFs, each listing Registrations of Copyright issued in a given month. The portal holds PDFs from 2017 to May 2026 (verified June 2026). Each PDF shows diary number, ROC number, date, title, work category, and applicant name. No login or payment is needed to download.
Can I search copyright by company name in India?
Yes. Use the Applicant field in the Search Registered Work tool at copyright.gov.in/SearchRoc.aspx. Enter the company name or a partial name. Also try variations such as older names, abbreviations, and related group entity names, as the Register records the applicant name exactly as it was stated on the application form.
What should I do if the copyright search shows no result?
Treat it as inconclusive, not as clearance. The work may be unregistered, registered under a different title or name, filed before 2012, or not yet processed. Try alternate spellings and name variations. Unregistered works may still be protected; a null result does not mean the work is free to use.
This article explains the Indian Copyright Act 1957 and Copyright Rules 2013 as at June 2026, based on the statutory text and the Copyright Office portal as verified on that date. It is for general information only and is not legal advice. Portal pages, fees, and procedures change; confirm current details at copyright.gov.in before you act. For advice on your specific work or dispute, consult a qualified IP practitioner.