Copyright Objection Reply —
Defend Your Work &
Secure Registration
Copyright registration in India includes a mandatory 30-day window during which any third party can file an objection — and the Registrar may raise their own discrepancies. An unanswered objection leads to the application being dismissed. TaxClue responds to both third-party objections and examiner discrepancy letters, and represents you at hearings before the Registrar of Copyrights.
Reply to Copyright Objection
Response drafted within ✅ 5–7 working days
Copyright Applications Face Two Types of Objection — Both Require a Formal Reply
When the Copyright Office receives an application, it enters a mandatory 30-day waiting period and simultaneously examines the application for compliance. Objections can arise from two independent sources — and each must be responded to separately.
Stage 1: Third-Party Objection (30-Day Window)
Any person can object to registration during the mandatory waiting period
Stage 2: Examiner Discrepancy Letter
The Registrar raises deficiencies found in the application itself
6 Common Grounds for Copyright Objection — How TaxClue Responds
Ownership / Authorship Dispute
Objector claims to be the true author or owner of the work
Prior Publication / Earlier Work
Objector claims the work was already published or that they published it first
Work Made for Hire Claim
Employer or commissioning party claims they — not the creator — own the copyright
Missing NOC / Authorisation
Application filed by someone who is not the author — NOC from author not provided
Insufficient / Incorrect Copy of Work
The work submitted is incomplete, incorrect category, or does not match the title
Derivative Work / Underlying Rights
Work is based on existing material — rights to underlying work not established
Anatomy of a Copyright Objection Letter — and the TaxClue Counter-Response
Whether the objection is from a third party or the Registrar's office, it follows a structured format. Understanding every element is essential to crafting a complete and effective reply — one that addresses every point raised without conceding anything unnecessarily.
TaxClue reads the objection in full, categorises each ground, and constructs a point-by-point response backed by evidence and legal submissions. Every reply is filed on time — never at the last minute.
Copyright Objection Letter — Structure
How TaxClue Builds the Counter-Response
Every copyright objection response TaxClue files is structured, evidenced, and strategically drafted.
Objection Analysis
Every ground of objection is categorised — legal grounds, factual claims, and formal deficiencies are separated. The strongest arguments against each ground are identified before any response is drafted.
Creation Evidence Assembly
Dated drafts, file metadata, version control history, emails with creation timestamps, publication records, and payment receipts gathered and organised to establish authorship and date of creation.
Legal Counter-Statement
Point-by-point counter to each ground — legal arguments citing the Copyright Act, judicial precedents from High Courts and the IP Appellate Board, and factual rebuttals of objector's claims.
Affidavit Preparation
Where ownership or authorship is contested, a sworn affidavit by the applicant (and corroborating witnesses if available) is prepared, attested, and filed with the Copyright Office as evidence.
Corrected Documents Filed
Any formal defects identified by the examiner — missing NOC, incorrect details, insufficient work copies — corrected and refiled with the counter-statement. Formal and substantive objections resolved simultaneously.
Hearing Representation
If the Registrar is not satisfied with the written submissions, a hearing is scheduled. TaxClue prepares detailed oral arguments and represents the applicant before the Registrar — included in the service.
From Objection Receipt to Resolution — 5 Steps
Objection Reviewed
TaxClue receives and analyses the full objection letter — categorising every ground, assessing its strength, and identifying the evidence needed to rebut it.
Day 1–2Evidence Gathered
Creation records, timestamps, emails, contracts, NOCs, and any other supporting documents assembled from the applicant. Affidavit prepared and signed where ownership is contested.
Day 2–5Counter-Statement Drafted
Point-by-point counter-statement prepared addressing every ground raised. Legal citations included. Applicant reviews for accuracy before finalisation.
Day 5–7Filed with Copyright Office
Counter-statement, supporting evidence, affidavit, and any corrected documents filed with the Copyright Office within the stipulated deadline.
Day 7–10Hearing (if required)
If Registrar schedules a hearing, TaxClue prepares oral arguments and attends — presenting the applicant's case and rebutting the objector's oral arguments directly before the Registrar.
As scheduled3 Outcomes After a Copyright Objection Reply
Objection Dismissed — Registration Proceeds
The Registrar finds the applicant's counter-statement satisfactory and dismisses the objection. The application proceeds to examination and registration. A copyright certificate is issued in the applicant's name.
Corrections Required — Application Amended
The Registrar asks for specific corrections — corrected NOC, revised applicant details, additional work copies. TaxClue implements the directed corrections and the application proceeds without a full hearing.
Hearing Ordered — Oral Arguments Presented
Where written submissions leave material facts in dispute, the Registrar schedules a hearing. Both parties appear and present oral arguments. The Registrar issues a written order. Appeals lie to the High Court / IPAB.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
For third-party objections filed during the 30-day waiting period, the Copyright Rules specify that the applicant must file their counter-statement within a period directed by the Registrar in the notice — typically 30 days from the date the objection is communicated to the applicant. For examiner discrepancy letters, the period is stated in the letter itself — again typically 30 days. Extensions are possible on application to the Registrar, but should not be relied upon as a matter of course. TaxClue tracks the response deadline from the moment the objection is received and begins work immediately. Contact TaxClue the day the objection arrives — do not wait.
The strongest evidence for authorship / ownership is contemporaneous creation evidence — meaning documents that existed at the time of creation, not created retrospectively. This includes: (1) file metadata showing creation dates; (2) version control commit history (for software); (3) email chains showing work in progress sent to third parties at the time; (4) cloud storage timestamps (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive); (5) invoices or payment records showing the creator was paid for the specific work; (6) social media posts, blog publications, or platform upload timestamps predating the objection; and (7) witness affidavits from collaborators or reviewers who saw the work during creation. TaxClue advises applicants on which evidence is most persuasive for the Registrar and how to assemble and present it effectively.
Under Section 17 of the Copyright Act, the employer owns copyright in works made by an author "in the course of his employment under a contract of service or apprenticeship." The key phrase is "in the course of employment" — this is a factual question, not simply a matter of whether the creator was employed at the time. Work created independently, on personal time, using personal resources, and unrelated to employment duties is generally not owned by the employer even if the employment contract contains broad IP assignment clauses (which must be carefully analysed). TaxClue examines the employment contract, the nature of the work, the creator's job description, and the circumstances of creation to determine who has the stronger ownership claim and drafts the response accordingly.
If the Registrar of Copyrights rules against the applicant — either dismissing the application or allowing the objector's claim — the decision can be appealed. Appeals from decisions of the Registrar of Copyrights previously lay to the Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB), which was abolished in 2021. Post-abolition, appeals from the Copyright Office lie to the High Court having jurisdiction. The appeal must be filed within the limitation period applicable under the Limitation Act. TaxClue reviews every adverse decision for legal errors and advises on the prospects of a High Court appeal. In appropriate cases, TaxClue coordinates with IP litigation counsel for court proceedings.
⚠️ Objection Reply Mistakes That Cost Registrations
These errors are made when applicants attempt to respond to copyright objections without specialist assistance:
- Missing the response deadline — application is dismissed and the objector's claim is treated as established
- Failing to respond to every ground raised — partial responses are treated as admissions of the unanswered grounds
- Filing a response without supporting evidence — bare denials rarely satisfy the Registrar; documents must be filed
- Making unnecessary concessions about ownership or authorship that become binding on future enforcement
- Submitting an unattested affidavit — affidavits not properly attested by an oath commissioner or notary are inadmissible
- Not correcting formal defects alongside the substantive response — an objection may have both formal and ownership grounds; only answering one leaves the other open
- Ignoring a hearing notice — non-appearance at the hearing is treated as abandonment of the application
Complete Copyright Protection with TaxClue
Copyright Registration
File the original application — Form XIV with the Copyright Office.
Learn More →Trademark Objection Reply
Trademark objection — similar process, different registry. Experts in both.
Learn More →Patent Assignment
Transfer IP ownership with legally watertight deed + IPO registration.
Learn More →An Unanswered Objection Ends the Registration — Don't Let That Happen
Copyright objections have short deadlines and require evidence, legal arguments, and a formal counter-statement. TaxClue responds to both third-party objections and examiner discrepancy letters — with evidence-backed submissions and hearing representation included as standard.
🔒 Confidential · Free Assessment · 4.9★ · 30-Day Deadline Tracked · Affidavit + Evidence Prepared · Hearing Representation Included