Copyright Law

Under Pakistan’s Copyright Ordinance, 1962, a wide range of works are eligible for copyright protection, including:
Literary works (books, articles, software, etc.)
Artistic works (paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc.)
Musical compositions
Cinematographic works (films, videos)
Sound recordings
Broadcasts and digital content Copyright protects the expression of ideas but not the ideas themselves.

In Pakistan, the duration of copyright varies by type of work:
Literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works: Protected for the author’s lifetime plus 50 years after their death.
Films, sound recordings, and broadcasts: Protected for 50 years from the year of publication.
Photographs: Protected for 50 years from the year the photograph was made public.

To register a copyright in Pakistan, you need to:
1. Submit a copyright application to the Copyright Office in Islamabad.
2. Provide necessary documentation, including details about the work and proof of authorship.
3. Pay the required fee and submit the application.
4. Once verified, the Copyright Office issues a registration certificate, confirming the copyright ownership.

No, copyright registration is not mandatory in Pakistan. Copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of an original work, provided it is fixed in a tangible form. However, registration provides legal evidence of ownership and strengthens the copyright holder’s case if infringement occurs.

Penalties for copyright infringement in Pakistan can include:
Fines: Up to PKR 200,000 depending on the severity.
Imprisonment: Up to three years.
Seizure of infringing materials: The court may order confiscation and destruction of infringing copies. The court may also require the infringer to pay damages to the copyright holder.

Copyright infringement occurs when someone uses, reproduces, distributes, or publicly displays copyrighted work without the owner’s permission. Infringement can include unauthorized copying, sharing, or selling protected content, even if no profit is made from it.

Yes, Pakistan’s copyright law includes fair use provisions allowing limited use of copyrighted material for purposes like teaching, research, and criticism. However, this use must be non-commercial and limited in scope. Excessive or commercial use may require permission from the copyright owner.

To protect your work online in Pakistan:
Use copyright notices on your digital content.
Register your work with Pakistan’s Copyright Office for added legal security.
Monitor online platforms for unauthorized use and use tools like Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notices to report infringements.
Seek legal advice if infringement is widespread, as you may need to file a formal complaint.

Moral rights in Pakistan protect the personal connection between the author and their work, regardless of copyright ownership. These rights include:
The right to claim authorship.
The right to object to derogatory treatment or distortion of the work. Moral rights help ensure that authors are properly credited and that their work is not misused.

The Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan oversees copyright protection and enforcement, aiming to support copyright holders and raise awareness of intellectual property rights. IPO manages copyright registrations, processes infringement complaints, and conducts anti-piracy activities to protect creators’ rights in Pakistan.

Yes, software is classified as a literary work under Pakistan’s Copyright Ordinance, 1962, and is eligible for copyright protection. Copyright covers the source code, structure, and interface of software, prohibiting unauthorized copying, distribution, or modification by third parties.

Yes, Pakistan is a member of several international copyright treaties, including the Berne Convention and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). This membership allows Pakistan to recognize and enforce copyrights from other member countries, giving reciprocal protection to foreign copyright holders.

Copyright ownership can be proven by:
Copyright registration certificate (if registered).
Original copies or drafts showing the date of creation.
Witnesses or documentation that support your claim. Registration simplifies ownership verification, especially in legal disputes, but other forms of proof are also valid.

Yes, copyright can be sold, transferred, or licensed to others in Pakistan, either in full or in part. The copyright holder can create a formal agreement specifying the terms and conditions of use, which must be in writing and signed to be legally enforceable.

In Pakistan: Copyright protects original creative works (e.g., literature, music, art) from unauthorized reproduction.
Trademark protects brand identifiers (e.g., logos, symbols, brand names) that distinguish products or services. While both protect intellectual property, copyright covers creative works, and trademarks cover brand identity.

Fair use in Pakistan allows limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as research, criticism, education, and news reporting without infringing copyright. However, fair use must.

To report copyright infringement:
File a complaint with the Intellectual Property Organization (IPO) Pakistan, which handles copyright infringement cases.
If infringement is online, send a DMCA takedown notice to the platform hosting the content.
Contact the police for criminal enforcement if the infringement is severe and persistent.

In Pakistan: Public domain works are not protected by copyright and can be freely used by anyone, often because the copyright has expired or the creator waived their rights.
Copyrighted works are protected, and usage requires permission from the copyright holder. Unauthorized use of copyrighted work is considered infringement.

Copyright registration in Pakistan provides:
Legal proof of ownership: Useful in court if disputes arise.
Right to sue for damages: Allows the copyright owner to claim compensation for unauthorized use.
Increased credibility: Registration helps establish authenticity and ownership of original works.