In the rapidly evolving internet era, copyright disputes are increasingly common and complex. The first step in rights protection is to establish rights. Only by preliminarily proving the ownership of a work and constituting the legal status of a "rights holder" can one effectively assert their own rights.

China's copyright system follows the principle of voluntary registration. However, in specific judicial practice, "third-party certification" obtained from registration platforms is often more easily used as valid evidence in legal proceedings than "self-certification." Therefore, registering the copyright of a work immediately after its creation can effectively reduce the burden of proof for the rights holder, lower the cost of rights protection, and reduce resistance in the process.

In copyright transactions, a work registration certificate can quickly prove ownership and accelerate transaction progress. It is also the most effective and direct endorsement for showcasing the innovation and creativity of the copyright holder, enhancing the corporate image, and providing intangible asset ownership proof for corporate listings.

Sample of Work Registration Certificate

Detailed Explanation of Voluntary Copyright Registration Business

Ⅰ、Guangdong Province Processing Institutions
Certification Authority: Guangdong Provincial Copyright Bureau
Agency: Shenzhen Copyright Society
In 2010, with the approval of the Guangdong Provincial Copyright Bureau, the Shenzhen Copyright Society became the copyright grassroots workstation and the first copyright registration agency in the Shenzhen area of the bureau. It is responsible for the pre-acceptance, preliminary review, and issuance of work registration certificates for the copyright registration system in Shenzhen.

In 2010, 2015, 2016, and 2018, the association received honors such as "Advanced Unit in Guangdong Province Copyright Registration Work" and "Excellent Agency in Guangdong Province".

After years of experience accumulation and business capability enhancement, the Copyright Registration Department of the Shenzhen Copyright Society adheres to the concept of professional and reliable, service-saving and fully utilizes two major service advantages:
1、Fast document review speed: Basically, materials submitted through the system on working days are accepted on the same day.
2、Professional and precise document review: As the preliminary review unit for copyright registration in Shenzhen, the review and guidance during the registration process are more in line with the requirements of the re-review by the Guangdong Provincial Copyright Bureau.

Ⅱ、Contact Information for Processing
Time: Monday to Friday 9:00-12:00, 13:30-17:30 (except for statutory holidays)
Address: Room 603, 6th Floor, Building 6, Shenzhen Bay Technology Ecology Park, Shaxi West Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
Contact Person for Consultation
Ms. Xu 0755-86185560 QQ:625792137
Ms. He 0755-86660433 QQ:1425701411

Ⅲ、Copyright Registration Processing Flowchart 

The link to the Guangdong Copyright Network is: http://www.gd-copyright.cn/gdcrsp/

Note: Real-name authentication requires the copyright holder of the work to apply for an account using their real name.

Ⅳ、Registration-related materials and requirements

1、Copyright Registration System User Registration Confirmation Letter: Download (click to download or download at the end of the document), print, and have the copyright holder sign personally or stamp with the official seal. Convert to an image (image format limited to jpg/png, within 5M) through scanning or photographing.
2、Copyright Holder Identity Proof:
① Copyright Holder is a Natural Person

• Scan both sides of your ID card separately.
• Provide one picture of the applicant holding the ID card (photo side) (image format limited to jpg/png, within 5M).
• If the natural person is from outside Guangdong Province, in addition to the above two documents, download the Copyright Application Form for Individuals (Institutions) Outside Guangdong Province from the download section of the Guangdong Provincial Copyright Bureau's official website (also available for download here or at the end of the document). Print, sign, and provide proof of being in Guangdong, such as a work certificate (issued by the employer) or a residence certificate (Guangdong Province Residence Permit).

② Copyright Holder is an Enterprise

• Scan or copy and stamp with the official seal of the business license, public institution legal person registration certificate, etc. (image format limited to jpg/png, within 5M). The image must be clear, complete, and genuine.
• If the enterprise is from outside Guangdong Province but has business in Guangdong, in addition to the above documents, download the Copyright Application Form for Individuals (Institutions) Outside Guangdong Province from the download section of the Guangdong Provincial Copyright Bureau's official website (also available for download here or at the end of the document). Print, fill in, stamp with the official seal, and upload to the system.

3、Work Copyright Ownership Proof:
① Works Created in the Course of Employment require a Proof of Work Created in the Course of Employment (click to download or download at the end of the document).
② Collaborative Works require a cooperation agreement.
③ Commissioned Works require a commission agreement.
④ Copyright Obtained by Inheritance requires a notarized document of inheritance rights or a proof document of the sole heir (other heirs' renunciation of inheritance rights).
⑤ Other ownership proof documents required depending on the specific ownership situation.
All of the above proofs must be converted into electronic files through scanning or photographing. (File format limited to jpg/jpeg/png/pdf, within 10M)

4、Copyright Holder and Author Identity Proof:
If there are multiple copyright holders or the copyright holder and the author are not the same person (entity), identity proofs of all copyright holders and authors are required, and a cooperation agreement must be uploaded. (The cooperation agreement must clearly stipulate the ownership of the copyright)

5、Work Description:
Fill in the main content, creation process, and originality of the work, closely related to the content of the work, no less than 100 words, and no more than 1000 words.

6、Other Proof Materials:
For works involving patents, trademarks, personal portraits, etc., relevant ownership proofs or authorization documents are required, all of which must be converted into electronic files through scanning or photographing and uploaded (file format limited to jpg/jpeg/png/pdf).

7、Work Samples:
All work samples must be uploaded in electronic format.
Image format limited to: jpg/jpeg/png
Text format limited to: wps/doc/docx/pdf/txt
Audio file format limited to: wav/mp3/wma/acc
Video format limited to: mp4 (H264 encoding format)/flv

Notes:
A single jpg format image that can be clearly printed on A4 paper can be directly printed on the back of the Work Registration Certificate.
Works that cannot be directly printed on the back of the Work Registration Certificate must have a physical sample sent (attached with the application number, work title, copyright holder, etc.) to our association, and it must be ensured that the physical sample is completely consistent with the electronic version uploaded to the system.
For works involving three-dimensional shapes in the categories of fine arts, architecture, design drawings, and models, six-view samples can be submitted. For audio-visual works, video recordings, audio recordings, literary works, and oral works, content CDs can be submitted.
Images must be complete and clear, and paper samples must be printed and bound on A4 paper.

Ⅴ. Processing Time Limit

1. Literary works
2. Oral works
3. Musical, dramatic, quyi (traditional Chinese variety show), dance, and acrobatic art works
4. Works of fine arts and architecture
5. Photographic works
6. Audio-visual works
7. Engineering design drawings, product design drawings, maps, diagrams, and other graphic works and model works
8. Other intellectual achievements that meet the characteristics of works

Copies of the work：50 RMB
Sealed copies of the work：40 RMB

The final price shall be subject to the price displayed in the system.

Account Name: Shenzhen Copyright Association
Account Number: 40000 2620 9200 2989 20
Bank: Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, Meilin Branch

Note: Please indicate the title of the work and the name and tax number for the invoice in the transfer remarks.

IX. Issues to Note in the Copyright Registration Processing System
(I) Title of the Work:
Title of the Work: It should be standardized, accurate, and complete, expressing the main meaning and characteristics of the work. The content of the copyright registration must correspond to the title. For example, if only a script outline is submitted, the title should be “XXX Script Outline,” not “XXX Script.”
Fine Art Works: The title should not contain irregular symbols or phrases such as “+” or “and,” such as “Name + Graphic” or “Name and Graphic,” because the protection of fine art works covers the entire graphic.
Compilation Works: If the work is a company product manual, the title should not simply be “Product Manual.” If there is no specific applicant or product name, the title should include the company abbreviation, year, product design (promotional) manual (catalog), etc., based on the content of the application.

(II) Type of Work:
Difference between Video Recording and Audiovisual Works: Video recordings are often mechanically recorded performances or works created by others, with necessary technical processing, such as recording lectures or stage performances. In contrast, cinematographic works and works created by similar methods involve artistic creation by directors, producers, and other relevant personnel.
Fine Art vs. Product Design Drawings: General clothing products are not considered fine art and should be registered as product design drawings, unless the patterns or designs on the clothing are being registered. Performance or banquet attire is generally recognized as fine art by the courts. Mass-produced items are usually not considered fine art.
Difference between Architectural Works and Product Design Drawings:
Architectural Works: These refer to completed buildings themselves, including artistic decorations attached to the structures. When uploading images of the work, submit photos of the actual building and may include design drawings or architectural models.
Product Design Drawings: These are design drawings and explanatory documents created with lines and symbols for construction or production purposes. When uploading images of the work, submit flat patterns drawn with various lines to illustrate the shape and structure of the product. Based on past cases, copyright law protects the appearance of buildings with originality and artistic beauty. However, for design drawings, only the rights of reproduction and distribution are protected, not the transformation from two-dimensional to three-dimensional products.
Note: Models of unfinished buildings do not qualify as architectural works.

(III) Issues Related to the Description:
The description of the work should cover three aspects: the creative process, main content, and originality.
English terms in the work samples should be annotated with their Chinese meanings in the description.
The time of creation should match the completion date filled in the system (note this carefully).
Seals or stamps in the work samples should be annotated with their Chinese meanings in the description.
For photographic works, the description should include details such as the camera used, lens, body number, aperture value, exposure time, ISO speed, and focal length.

(IV) Issues Related to Uploading Works:
File names can only include Chinese characters, uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and underscores.
Formats for uploading works:
Image formats: jpg/jpeg/png
Text formats: doc/docx/pdf/txt
Audio file formats: wav/mp3/wma/aac
Video formats: mp4 (H264 encoding format)/flv

(V) Rights Ownership Status:
Video Works: Select the rights of reproduction, distribution, rental, and information network dissemination.
Transferred Works: Do not select the following four rights: right of publication, right of attribution, right of modification, and right to protect the integrity of the work.
Works Made for Hire: The right of attribution must not be selected.

(VI) Information of the Copyright Holder:
Individual Copyright Holder: The true name should be filled in, consistent with the name on the ID card. The “Attribution” section may include the real name, anonymous, or pseudonym.
Corporate or Other Organization: The full name of the entity should be filled in, consistent with the name on the business license or other certificates.

Need to download the attachment:

Attachment 1: Copyright Registration System User Registration Confirmation
Attachment 2: Application for Copyright Registration of Works by Individuals (Institutions) from Outside the Province
Attachment 3: Confirmation of Copyright for Works Made for Hire