Copyright Registration

According to section 10 of the Copyright Ordinance, 1962 as amended by the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance, 2000

The things which can be copyrighted include

• literary work (including computer programmes ; excluding speeches
• musical works, including any accompanying words
• dramatic works, including any combination of melody and harmony or either of them, produced or reproduced graphically
• pantomimes and choreographic works
• pictorial, graphic, sculptural and artistic works (i.e. painting, sculpture, drawing, engraving or a photograph, an architectural work of art and any other work of artistic craftsmanship)
• motion pictures and other audio-visual works
• sound recordings, any disc, tape, wire, perforated roll or other device in which sounds are embodied)
• architectural plans, drawings and actual buildings

• Registration of copyright establishes a public record of the copyright holder’s ownership.
• Registration of copyright enables copyright holders to sue against infringers in federal courts.
• If one is using copyrighted material of another without his permission and earn profit from that, then court may take action against him to compensate damages by giving the copyright’s owner his profit as restitution.
• Registration of copyright allows copyright owner to record the registration with Pakistan Customs. It will protect against the importation of infringing copies into the Pakistan.

• The real owner of the original work can apply for the registration of a copyright.
• A copyright can have multiple owners if there is an agreement between them. These multiple owners of copyright are called co-owners of the copyright.
• The mere ownership or transfer ownership of work such as book, manuscript, painting or any other copy or record does not give the possessor the copyright. It is state laws which regulate business dealings involving these copyrights.