Copyright Office is a quasi-judicial organization. The activities of the office are being governed by the Copyright Act, 2000 (amended in 2005). The Registrar of Copyright is head of the office.

Copyright is a subject-matter of statutory protection of Intellectual property in Bangladesh. It was originated from the British copyright system and later on in 1962, a copyright ordinance amalgamating the different copyright laws which were existed at that time, was promulgated, namely, the copyright ordinance of 1962. This ordinance was administered up to 1999. After that, a new law contain different provisions in the line of International standard was enacted in 2000, namely, the Copyright Act, 2000 (No 28 of 2000) and it is amended up to 2005.

The Copyright Act, 2000 (amended in 2005) contains, among others, the subject-matters of the TRIPS agreement in respect of Copyright and Related Rights, computer programmers, database, rental rights, cinema, broadcasting rights, performer’s rights, Phonograms rights etc.

Bangladesh has been extending Co-operation with the World Trade Organization (WTO), World Intellectual property Organization (WIPO) and UNESCO for enriching her copyright system.

An attempt is underway to establish a development project in the name of strengthening ‘Copyright System in Bangladesh’. Which is now at primary stage?

The main Activities of Copyright Office are as follows.

1. Copyright registration: Registration of copyright under the copyright Act is Voluntary and not obligatory. The certificate issued by the registrar of copyright constitutes prima-facie evidence of ownership of copyright.
2. Civil remedies: The copyright board consists of a chairman and not less than two or more than six members. The board acts as an appellate authority and is deemed to be civil court. The board hears the appeal submitted before it by an affected person for infringement of copyright. The judgment of the board is appeal able to higher courts
3. Compulsory licensing: The copyright Act includes some provisions relating to compulsory licensing for translation or reprint of foreign works as granted to developing countries by the two copyright conventions (Berne and universal conventions).The copyright board is empowered to hear application by Bangladesh nationals in this regard after giving an opportunity to the foreign copyright owners to be heard before finally deciding the questions.
4. Transfer of copyright: Copyright is transferable in Bangladesh. The transfer may be in the form of licenses of contracts. The owner of copyright may assign the copyright to any person either wholly or partially or subject to limitation and either for the whole term of copyright or any part thereof. The assignment shall be in writing by the assignor by his duly authorized agent.
5. Copyright piracy: Copyright office believed that piracy is an impediment in the way of development of education, science and culture and it, not only deters creative activities of a nation but also discourages the growth of publishing industries and investment thereof, relating to books music’s, films, art and sound recordings etc, which are based on the protection of copyright and related rights and are essentially needed for the purposes of promotion of culture and education.
6. Collective administration of copyright: The copyright Act contains a number of provisions for collective administration of copyrights. It provides that there shall be copyright societies for administration of rights of various categories of right-holders and in that case, right-holders of the owners of copyright will get opportunities to exercise their rights including collection and distribution of royalties, which will be greatly beneficial to authors/ owners and thus it will promote creative activities in the country.
7. Importation of infringing copies: The copyright office, in collaboration with custom authorities is empowered to inspect any vehicle, ship, air-craft, dock or premises on the basis or a complaint lodged by the owner of a copyright or his duly authorized agent and can take action to prevent importation of illegal copies.