Copyright

No. Copyright arises automatically on creation. Registration is voluntary — but the certificate is prima facie evidence of ownership in court and in enforcement processes, which is why most businesses register works that matter commercially.

Six to twelve months typically. A diary number is issued immediately on filing, followed by a mandatory thirty-day objection window, then examination. Discrepancy letters can extend the timeline.

No. It is the Examiner asking for a correction or clarification before the application can proceed. Most are resolved on paper. What does end an application is ignoring the letter — the file is then treated as abandoned and the government fee is gone.

The period is stated in the letter itself and is commonly thirty days from the date of the communication. Extensions are not reliably granted, so the practical answer is to treat the stated date as firm.

Yes. Section 19 requires an assignment of copyright to be in writing and signed by the assignor or a duly authorised agent. An oral agreement or an email exchange of intent does not transfer copyright, whatever the parties believed.

The Act fills the gap, and rarely as the parties intended. Where the period is not stated it is deemed to be five years. Where territory is not stated it is presumed to be India only. A business that thought it had bought worldwide rights in perpetuity may find it has five years in India.