Copyright Assignment and Licensing
Copyright moves between people only in writing, and only on terms the Act recognises. An assignment that omits the term, the territory or the royalty is not merely weak drafting — parts of it may simply not bite.
- Section 19 requirements met on the face of the deed
- Assignment, licence or work-for-hire structured correctly
- Recorded with the Copyright Office in Form XV
- Software, content, music and artwork covered
- Government fee from
- ₹500
- Our fee from
- ₹6,999
- Typical timeline
- 2–6 months
Why so many assignments do not do what the parties intended
Section 19 of the Copyright Act sets out what an assignment must contain. It has to be in writing and signed by the assignor or an authorised agent. It must identify the work, specify the rights assigned, and state the duration and the territorial extent. It must state the royalty or consideration payable to the author. These are not drafting preferences; where the deed is silent the Act fills the gap in ways the parties rarely intend.
Two default rules catch people out. If the assignment does not specify a period, it is deemed to be five years. If it does not specify territory, it is presumed to extend only to India. A company that took a worldwide perpetual assignment in its head, but a silent one on paper, has neither.
There is also a use-it-or-lose-it rule. Where the assignee does not exercise the rights assigned within one year, the assignment in respect of those rights lapses unless the deed says otherwise. That matters for content and music catalogues acquired and then shelved.
Licensing is the alternative where you want to keep ownership. An exclusive licence must also be in writing; a non-exclusive licence has more flexibility. The commercial difference is that an exclusive licensee can generally sue infringers in its own right, which a non-exclusive licensee cannot.
What copyright assignment & licensing gives you
The practical advantages, not the marketing version.
Rights actually transfer
A deed that satisfies Section 19 moves what the parties meant to move, for the period and territory intended.
Defaults displaced
The five-year and India-only presumptions are excluded expressly rather than discovered later.
Diligence-ready title
Acquirers and investors trace the chain of title to the author. A recorded deed shortens that conversation.
Contractor work secured
Freelance and agency work is brought into your ownership with an assignment rather than assumed.
Royalty terms that comply
Author royalty rights, which cannot be waived in some cases, are handled correctly rather than drafted around.
Recorded on the register
Filing Form XV puts the transfer on the public record where third parties can verify it.
The process, step by step
Every stage, with realistic timelines — including the ones that depend on the registry rather than on us.
- 12–5 days
Establish current ownership
We trace who owns what today — author, employer, commissioning party, prior assignee — before drafting anything.
- 21–2 days
Choose the instrument
Assignment, exclusive licence, non-exclusive licence or work-for-hire, chosen against what you actually need commercially.
- 33–7 days
Draft the deed
Work identified, rights enumerated, duration, territory, royalty and revocation terms drafted to satisfy Section 19.
- 42–5 days
Execute and stamp
The deed is executed by both parties and stamped at the rate applicable in the relevant state.
- 52–3 days
File Form XV
Particulars of the assignment are filed with the Copyright Office to enter the transfer in the Register of Copyrights.
- 62–6 months
Entry recorded
The Registrar records the change and the register reflects the new owner.
What you need to provide
Have these ready and the filing moves quickly. We tell you if anything is missing before we start.
Identifying the work
- Registration certificate and registration number, where the work is registered
- Copy or sample of the work being assigned
- Details of the author and date of creation
- Details of first publication, if published
The parties
- PAN and identity proof of assignor and assignee
- Constitution documents where a company or LLP is a party
- Board resolution or authority to execute
- Address proof for both parties
The transaction
- Commercial terms — consideration, royalty, milestones
- Rights to be assigned or licensed, and any carve-outs
- Territory and duration intended
- Existing licences or encumbrances on the work
- Prior assignment deeds in the chain, if any
Official fees
These are statutory fees payable to the government, separate from our professional fee. We never mark them up.
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Form XV — particulars of assignment | ₹500 | Per work, for entering the transfer on the register. |
| Change of particulars — literary or artistic work | ₹200 | Per work. |
| Change of particulars — cinematograph film | ₹2,000 | Per work. |
| Registration of the work, if not already registered | ₹500–₹5,000 | Depends on the category of work. |
| Stamp duty on the deed | As per state law | Varies by state and consideration; not a Copyright Office fee. |
Stamp duty is payable to the state government and differs across states — it is assessed on the deed and the consideration, and is separate from any Copyright Office fee. An assignment is valid between the parties once executed; recording it with the Copyright Office is what makes it verifiable by third parties.
Transparent professional fees
Fixed fees, quoted upfront. Government fees are charged at cost and shown separately on every invoice.
Assignment Deed
One assignment, drafted and recorded.
- Ownership position confirmed
- Section 19 compliant deed drafted
- Duration and territory expressly stated
- Execution and stamping guidance
- Form XV filed
Licence Agreement
Exclusive or non-exclusive licensing terms.
- Everything in Assignment Deed
- Scope, field of use and sub-licensing
- Royalty and reporting mechanics
- Termination and reversion terms
- Enforcement rights allocated
Chain of Title Audit
For a portfolio going into diligence.
- Every work traced to its author
- Gaps in the chain identified
- Remedial assignments and NOCs drafted
- Consolidated title report
- Recordals filed across the portfolio
Questions we get asked
If your question is not here, send it over — we answer directly rather than routing you to a form.
Does an assignment have to be in writing?
What happens if the deed does not state a duration or territory?
Do I need to register the work before assigning it?
Assignment or licence — which should I take?
We paid an agency to design our packaging. Do we own the copyright?
Can an author's royalty right be waived?
Still unsure? Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right service for you.
Ready to start your copyright assignment & licensing?
Talk to an IP professional first. No obligation, no sales script — just a clear view of where you stand and what it will cost.