Can Unpublished Works Be Registered Under Copyright?

Both published and unpublished works can be registered. Even works published before January 21, 1958 (before the Copyright Act, 1957 came into effect) can be registered, as long as they are still under copyright protection.

For registration, two copies of the published or unpublished work must be submitted along with the application. If the work is unpublished, a copy of the manuscript should be sent to the Copyright Office for stamping as proof of registration. One stamped copy will be returned to the applicant, while the other will be kept in official records and treated as confidential. Instead of submitting the entire manuscript, applicants can also send selected extracts, which will be stamped and returned upon request.

If the unpublished work is later published, the applicant must apply for an update in the copyright records by filing Form XV along with the required fee. The registration process and fees remain the same for both published and unpublished works.