Are you a website owner? If yes, you must be worrying about the original content that you have posted on your website. That is to say, the blog posts, articles, courses, or other kinds of content that have been created by you. It is a matter of concern for every content creator to save their original content from copying. In other words, many websites copy and paste the content from other sites. As a result, this copied content also competes with its parent site or original site and deteriorated the Google search rank.
Hence, to avoid such situations and to save the original content, the creators use various strategies. Some creators make design their websites or add a plugin that stops other people from copying the data. In other words, they stop others from selecting the content. So, when someone cannot select a text or image, they can neither copy nor download it. However, this strategy does not work much effectively.
So, what should a content creator do? The best and legal way to save the original content from copying is to get the copyright of the website. After copyrighting a website, it will become an illegal offense to copy or steal the content from your website. That is to say, legal protection will be given to your website and in case of violation (copy-paste of original content), the person can be held responsible and legal action can be taken.
Let’s learn how to protect your website using copyright. In this section, you will get the knowledge of how copyright works and how can you protect your website and originally generated content from content stealers. So, let’s get started.
What is a copyright?
Copyright is the specialized legal protection given to your content so that no one can use it for commercialization. For example, films, music, songs, images, art, etc. can be copyrighted as original content. After that, no one can use that particular copyrighted content for their personal or commercial purpose.
Only the owner has the right to permit for its use. And if it is used without permission, the owner can take legal action against the person who is exploiting that original content without permission.
How to get the copyright for your website?
Now, you must have understood the significance of copyright and how it can protect your original data. Are you ready to get the copyright for your website? If yes, then in this section, you will learn how to apply for getting website copyright in India.
There are two modes for copyrighting a website in India.
- 1. Offline Mode
- 2. Online Mode
Offline Mode:
- To obtain copyright protection for your websites, you can apply through offline mode.
- Firstly, you will have to fill an application form with the correct details. All details must be correct. In case of wrong details, the application may get rejected.
- After filling the application form correctly, you will have to apply to in Department of Copyright.
- Also, you will need to send the required fees along with the copyright application.
- The application and all the details will be checked thoroughly. In case of any mistake, the application will be sent back to you.
- You can resubmit the application after the required corrections.
- Again, the Examination Department will examine all the details and confirm from their database whether this content has been copyright previously or not.
- In case the content has been copyrighted before, your application file will be rejected.
- However, if you have submitted the file for your original content, you will get a diary number.
- Your original content is now protected by copyright law.
Online Mode:
It is a much easier and hassle-free process than offline mode. There will be no requirement of standing in a cue for hours if you submit the copyright file via online mode. You will just need a personal computer and internet connection. To submit and register the copyright via online mode, you will have to follow these steps.
- First of all, visit the official website of the Department of Copyright. (https://copyright.gov.in/)
- You can click on the link given above to register a copyright for your website.
- Now, you will have to register for a new copyright. For that, click “REGISTRATION OF COPYRIGHT – FORM XIV.”
- You will be redirected to a new page where you will be asked for your login ID and password. You can create a new account by clicking on “NEW USER REGISTRATION.”
- Fill in the correct details such as name, email, address, contact, and username. After filling in all the details, verify the verification code shown in the image. Then click on “SUBMIT.”
- Your account will be created. You will have to memorize or store your login credentials for future use.
- Now, log in with the correct username and password that has been given to you via email.
- Now, click on the “Online Copyright Registration” button to start the process.
- Fill in the details correctly and complete the FORM-XIV.
- Now, upload a scanned copy of your signature not exceeding 512 Kb.
- Fill in the “Statement of Particular.” In this form, you will be asked about the content for which you are registering copyright.
- Subsequently, fill the “Statement of Further Particulars” to provide every detail of your original work.
- Now, click on save and submit the application form.
- Pay the fees via the payment gateway.
- The successful submission will lead to the generation of a “Diary Number.”
- Now, upload your work in the requested format. For example, artistic work in JPG format, music or sounds in MP3 format, etc.
- Finally, take the hard copies of “Acknowledgement Slip” and “Copyright Registration Form.”
- Both these documents should be sent to Copyright Division, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
Conclusion:
In the conclusion, you can register for copyright in India by following these steps. So, register a copyright for a website or your original content and protect it from content stealers.