Rules 73 explained: this guide covers what it means, who it applies to, the step-by-step process, documents required, fees, due dates and penalties in India — so you can stay compliant with confidence and avoid costly mistakes.
Rules 73 and 74 let anyone look at the Register of Copyrights and its indexes, take copies or extracts, and obtain a certified copy of an entry. They serve section 47 of the Copyright Act, 1957. If you want to check who owns a work, or need proof of an entry, these are the rules that govern how.
The Register and the indexes are open to inspection by any person at all reasonable times, in the manner and on the conditions the Registrar of Copyrights specifies. Online search or inspection is available on online payment of the Second Schedule fee. Anyone may take copies or make extracts on payment of the fee, under supervision. The Registrar furnishes a certified copy of entries on application and payment of the fee. Fees are those as notified in 2013; check the current Schedule.
Which section the rules serve
Rules 73 and 74 serve section 47 of the Act, which deals with inspection of the Register and indexes. See our article on sections 46 to 48, which also explains the Register as prima facie evidence. If you need a search of the Register before buying or licensing rights, or want your own work entered, our copyright registration team can help.
Rule 73: inspection
"The Register of Copyrights and Indexes thereof shall at all reasonable time be open to inspection by any person in such manner and subject to such conditions as the Registrar of Copyrights may specify. The online search or inspection of the Register of Copyrights and Indexes can be utilized by making online payment of fee as specified in the Second Schedule."
| Element | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Who may inspect | "any person"; no interest or purpose need be shown |
| When | "at all reasonable time" |
| How | In the manner and on the conditions the Registrar specifies |
| Online | Online search or inspection by online payment of the fee in the Second Schedule |
Two points. First, "any person" means a buyer, a licensee, a competitor or a student can all inspect. Second, the Second Schedule as printed has no entry that names a fee for inspection as such. The nearest entries are for taking extracts (entries 15 and 16), so the text does not state a fee for online search or inspection, and none is stated here. Check the current Schedule.
For the structure being inspected, see our article on the form of the Register, which describes the six parts, and the article on rules 71 and 72 for the indexes: a general Author Index, a general Title Index, and Author and Title Indexes of works in each language.
Rule 74: copies and extracts
Sub-rule (1). "Any person shall be entitled to take copies of, or make extracts from, the Register of Copyrights or Indexes on payment of the fee as specified in the Second Schedule subject to such supervision as the Registrar of Copyrights may arrange."
Sub-rule (2). "The Registrar of Copyrights shall, on an application made in that behalf and on payment of the fee specified in the Second Schedule, furnish a certified copy of entries made in the Register of Copyrights and Indexes thereof."
| Step | Who | What |
|---|---|---|
| Copy or extract | Any person | May take copies or make extracts on payment of the fee, under supervision the Registrar arranges |
| Certified copy | Applicant | Applies in that behalf and pays the fee |
| Furnishing | Registrar | Furnishes a certified copy of entries in the Register and Indexes |
The difference between the two is the status of the document. An extract or copy taken by the person is a working note. A certified copy is issued by the Registrar and is the one to use where proof of the entry is needed; see our article on sections 46 to 48 for the evidentiary effect the Act gives to the Register.
Fees (as notified in 2013; check the current Schedule)
| Item (Second Schedule) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Taking extracts from the Register of Copyrights (section 47), entry 15 | Rs. 500 per work |
| Taking extracts from the indexes (section 47), entry 16 | Rs. 500 per work |
| Certified copy of an extract from the Register or the Indexes (section 47), entry 17 | Rs. 500 per copy |
| Certified copy of any other public document in the custody of the Registrar or the Secretary of the Copyright Board, entry 18 | Rs. 500 per copy |
Entry 18 refers to the "Secretary of the Copyright Board", which is another place where the 2013 text uses the Board; it has no counterpart in rules 73 and 74, which do not mention the Board. Rule 74 does not itself refer to entry 18, which covers other public documents rather than entries in the Register.
How to read the rules together
- You may inspect the Register and indexes, in person or online, on the Registrar's terms (rule 73).
- You may take your own copies or extracts, paying the fee and accepting supervision (rule 74(1)).
- If you need an official record, apply for a certified copy and pay the fee (rule 74(2)).
The text says "on payment of the fee", so no copy, extract or certified copy is available without the fee. The text does not say how long the Registrar has to furnish a certified copy.
An example
Farhan Qureshi is about to take a licence of a musical work and wants to confirm the owner. He searches the Author Index and Title Index online, paying the fee the Registrar's online facility requires. He then applies for a certified copy of the entry, paying the entry 17 fee as notified in 2013 (Rs. 500 per copy), and attaches it to the licence file. A rival publisher who wants only a note of the entry takes an extract under supervision at the Copyright Office and pays the entry 15 fee.
What the rules do not say
- The manner and conditions of inspection are left to the Registrar; the text lays down none.
- No fee is printed for inspection as such.
- No period for issue of certified copies.
- No rule on whether electronic extracts are covered by "copies".
- No mention of the Board in rules 73 and 74.
Need help with a register search or a certified copy?
A clean search and a certified entry can save disputes later. Our copyright registration team can run the search, obtain the certified copy and advise on what it shows.
Key takeaways
- Any person may inspect the Register and indexes at all reasonable times, on the Registrar's conditions; online search needs online payment of the Schedule fee.
- Copies and extracts can be taken on payment of the fee, under supervision.
- The Registrar furnishes certified copies on application and payment.
- As notified in 2013, extracts and certified copies are Rs. 500 each under entries 15 to 17; no fee is printed for inspection itself.
- The text is as notified in 2013 with the 2016 amendment; check later amendments and fees.
Read next
- Rule 75: complaint about transient or incidental storage of works
- Rules 71–72: correction and rectification of entries and indexes
- Benefits of copyright registration
Disclaimer: Based on the Copyright Rules, 2013 as notified (with the 2016 amendment), read with the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021, as consulted on 1 October 2026. Later amendment rules, forms and fees should be checked in their current form. This article is general information, not legal advice; check the official text before acting.