Can You Copyright A Recipe ?

can recipe be copyright

Can you Copyright a Recipe?

Yes sure, Recipe can be in various forms- from Grandma’s best chocolate cookies ever to that world renowned chef secret signature sauce that no one is able to figure out. 

Here are the steps which you may or may not know about what it takes to copyright a recipe.

Ingredients of a copyright?

General copyright law protects any original work that are in tangible forms of expression such as Books, a script, or a CD. while these categories are broad, there are many categories of material that cannot be copyrighted.

Things that can’t be copyrighted includes work that are not in tangible forms, such as Ideas cannot be copyrighted, and things that are considered as common property with no originality ( basic instruction on how to boil water, for one or standard calendar).

A Pinch of Creativity

Copyrights are meant to protect original, creative works. The courts are split on whether or not ba recipe is considered as creative. Or rather, whether recipes are sufficiently creative enough to warrant protection under copyright law. Some may see recipes as just a listed process for how to make an edible item, rather than an expression of an artist 9 i.e. the chef or cook) and her activity and passion for food.

To what extent individuals recipes are actually protected are not entirely clear. However, recipes book or collection of recipes are more likely to receive copyright protection as they are in tangible form and can be considered an original, creative work.

For that one single, delicious, ( and uniquely brilliant, expressive etc.) recipe that you are holding onto, however it’s unfortunately not going to receive much protection if you attempt to secure a copyright for it. You may want to hold onto it for now, and revisit the copyright issue once you have a collection of recipes you are ready to dish out to a public. 

BIATLegal can help people to help out to find out the literary, artistic, dramatic or musical work that can be copyrighted and can help in its registration.

Assignment of Copyright in India

copyright assignment

Copyright is a unique kind of Intellectual Property right which gives protection to original creator or author. Copyright is an exclusive right to reproduce or authorize another to reproduce artistic, dramatic, literary, or musical works. It is essential that work must show a minimum level of creativity and originality.

 

Once the copyright is registered by the owner that cannot be reproduced or published without the permission of the creator.

 

Also Read : How To Apply For Copyright Registration In India ? 

 

Crucial points for Copyright Assignment

 

  1. The ownership of the copyright may be transferred wholly or partially.
  2. While assigning copyright to the third party the owner must specify the amount of copyright. And that third party cannot further assign that copyright without the permission of the owner.
  3. In case the assignment of copyright will take place in future then that assignment shall take effect only when the work comes into existence.
  4. The assignment of copyright is legally valid only when it is signed by the assignor or by his authorised signatory.
  5. The rights of the assignor of copyright shall be diluted to the extents of the rights assigned to the third party.
  6. The assignment deed shall specify the territorial extent of such assignment.
  7. The assignment shall further specify the assigned rights and the amount of royalty paid.
  8. The assignment agreement shall be subject to revision, termination, extension on terms mutually agreed upon parties.
  9. In case the assignee fails to exercise its power within 1 year of assignment then the assignment in respect of such right shall be deemed to be lapsed.
  10. If the assignment is contrary to the assignment which is being mutually agreed by the parties then it shall deemed to be as void.
  11. In case of Manuscript, copyright is a personal property and if it is to be transmitted then it can transmitted by testamentary disposition.
  12. The equitable assignment is just the agreement to assign and not the assignment.
  13. After the transmission of the copyright the assignee will get right of translation, adaptation, dramatic and filmmaking in the work.

 

The basic motive behind the introduction of copyright assignment is to give benefits of ownership and distribution to the creator of the work , however the copyright assignment cannot be used to deprive the original creator of his original creation.

 

How to copyright a logo and a name in India

How-to-copyright-a-logo-and-a-name-in-India

In India Copyright can be protected by either Copyright Registration or Trademark Registration process. There are different sets of steps which are required to be followed for obtaining the Trademark and Copyright Registration which we will discuss in the course of this blog.

 

By obtaining Copyright Registration and Trademark registration Brand value of a product is being protected. How to copyright a logo is itself confusing among the consumers.

 

Let us first clear the biggest misconception that logo and names can be protected with the copyright registration. Although the Brand name and a logo can be registered under a Trademark Act.  therefore Copyright Registration cannot be sought or done with the Name of the Brand, but the logo can be done or protected under both Copyright and a Trademark, since it comes under Artistic work and therefore it can be protected under both Copyright and Trademark.

 

Let us discuss the procedure of obtaining the Trademark registration in India for the Brand name and the logo. Here are the steps which are involved in this procedure-

 

  1. Firstly we do Free Trademark search of the Brand name to check that whether that brand name name is available or not. A name is available when a similar name or logo is not already registered.
  2. Then Application is to be made by our professionals for the Trademark Registration and shall be filed with the department.
  3. The there is mandatory waiting of 30 days in which in case of any discrepancies  objections can be raised from the registry side.
  4. Then once the Application is accepted  by the registry the it will be published in the Journal for a total period of 4 months. During this period the third party opposition will be invited.
  5. Then finally Trademark Registration is being done by the Registry if there is no Opposition from the third party.

 

In the same way you can make application for the protection of the logo under Trademark laws. After getting Trademark registration following steps has to be taken for Copyright Registration of the Logo. for Copyright registration following steps has to be taken:-

 

  1. Firstly Copyright search has be conducted.
  2. Then Application is to be made for Copyright Registration.
  3. The same 30 days mandatory wait is to be done for objections to come from the Registry.
  4. In case no objection the application is further forwarded to the examiner.
  5. If no discrepancy is found then registration of copyright is approved.
  6. Finally certification of registration of Copyright is granted to the Applicant.

Conclusion

In any case you are required to obtain the Trademark registration in India for both the logo and the name. But of you believe that your logo consist of some unique creation make sure to protect it with Copyright Registration in India.

 

How to apply for Copyright Protection in India?

copyright-protection

For registering Copyright Registration in India an Applicant must file online Application with the Copyright office. The Applicant must consist of relevant information and shall be filed along with the prescribed fees and documents.

 

Copyright is a kind of Intellectual Property Rights and it helps to protect the creation of the creator of literary, dramatic, musical, artistic and Cinematographic work. Copyright in India is governed by Copyright Act, 1957 along with the Copyright rules, 2013.

 

Step by Step procedure for Copyright protection in India-

 

  1. To begin with the procedure of Copyright Registration in India an applicant must must create his user id on the official portal of Copyright by filing his basic details.
  2. After the successful registration the applicant must login to the official portal for Copyright.
  3. Then after logging in screen will appear in which option for E-filing will appear.
  4. Then finally the Copyright Registration form is required to be filled up in four parts as specified below and and after completing each step the next  button must be pressed i.e. form XIV must be filled by the Applicant and submitted and move on to the next step.
  5. Then an Applicant is required to complete the particulars mentioned in this form and then press save button. In this the details about the creation must be filled like nature, description, class of work etc.

CopyRight Registration Process In India

copyright registration process in india

Copyright Registration Process

 

Copyright is a protection given for Literary, Artistic, dramatic and Musical work and for producers for Cinematographic films and Sound Recording. In fact it is a bundle of right which is given for rights of reproduction, communication to the public, adaptation and translation of the work.  Basically it is a right given to the creators, as India is a developing economy and through new creations only India is getting developed day by day. Therefore it safeguards the rights of the Authors over their creations and thereby creation is protected and Rewarded.

Also Read. : BIS Registration Process In India

 

Copyright Registration process

 

Firstly Application for Copyright Registration  is to be filed by an Applicant, and there should be separate application for each registration if there are more than application and each application should be accompanied with the prescribed fees which is given or provided by the Registry.  And that Application should be firstly signed by an applicant itself and by the Advocate whose Vakalatnama and Power of attorney is attached or has been executed. And that Vakalatnama shall be signed by the party and accepted by the Advocate, and hat acceptance should be enclosed.

 

Then Diary Number is being allotted by the Registry to the Applicant, and after getting your Diary Number you have to wait for he mandatory period of  days so that no objection is raised in the copyright office against your claim that particular work is not created by you.

 

Then if there will be no Objection then there will be scrutinization by the examiner, then after scrutinization they will search for Discrapencies, if no dicrapancy found then copyright registration will be approved by the Registry, but there is any discrapancy found then discrepancy letter will be issued to the Applicant, and reply to that letter will be prepared by the Applicant, and then hearing by the registrar will be conducted then either  approval or rejection for registration will be done.

And if there is an objection raised in the Copyright office hen letter for objection will be served to both the parties, and then reply has to be filed by both the parties, then hearing will be conducted by the Registrar and then application will either be Accepted or rejected , if Application is accepted then check for discrapancy will be conducted and discrapancy is found then letter will be issued to the Applicant and then Applicant will prepare the reply, and then mater will be gone for hearing and then registrar will either accept the application or will reject it.  And finally if the application is approved then Application for copyright will be registered and if rejected then application will be rejected.

Also Read : Trademark registration process in India

 

Therefore through copyright literary, artistic, dramatic and musical work can be copyrighted, you can also file a copyright application for your website or other computer programme, for any computer software and computer programme can be registered as Literary work. And as er section 2(o) of Copyright Act, 1957 literary work includes Computer programme, tables and compilations, including computer databases. Therefore Copyright protection prevents undue proliferation, of private products of work, and ensures that the individual owner retains significant rights over their creations.

 

BIATConsultant is #1 online legal consultant in India serving clients since 2004. .