Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, provide for RNI Registration of newspapers. It defines a newspaper as a printed periodical work containing public news or comment on public news.
RNI Registration: Unique Identity of the Title
Any person desirous of publishing a newspaper must file a declaration with the specified authority. They must also propose the title of the newspaper. The specified authority will authenticate the declaration. It will do so after ascertaining from Press Registrar that the proposed Title is not one of the following:
- Same or similar in a State in any language
- Same or similar to an existing Title, in the same language in the whole of India
Title Availability
Before applying for Title verification for RNI registration, the applicant must check the exhaustive list of verified Titles. These titles are available at the link ‘Verified Titles/Title Search’ Menu on the RNI website. Also, they must ensure that the proposed Titles are not same or similar to those already verified by RNI. While the Titles appearing on the website of RNI have already been verified, it does not imply that the Title(s) not in the list are necessarily available.
Title Approving Authority
The final authority of approving or rejecting a Title is vested in Press Registrar.
RNI Registration: Submission of Title Application
Application for Title verification of newspapers or periodicals is through Online Mode only. The Application Form in the enclosed format is available on the website of RNI, i.e. http//www.rni.nic.in. A print of the same can be forwarded through the Specified Authority to the RNI . This authority can be the District Magistrate or Executive Magistrate of the district concerned.
The seal and signature of the specified authority forwarding the application must be clear and legible on every page of the Title application.
RNI Registration: Publication Submission
Only original copies of the Title application forwarded by the District Magistrate or the specified authority will be processed in RNI for Title verification. The RNI will not entertain the photocopies. Also, RNI will not allow any tampering or usage of white fluid or cancellation or rewriting in the Title application.
Multilingual Publication
If the applicant mentions more than one language in an application, then the RNI will presume that the application is for a bilingual or a multilingual newspaper. Furthermore, the RNi will verify it accordingly.
A newspaper or a publication can be in one language. It can be bilingual or multilingual. When the publication is bilingual or multilingual, it must contain news or articles in all the languages in which the Title has been verified. If the applicant brings a separate publication in different languages, he must submit separate applications for each publication.
New Edition of Existing Publication
If an applicant wants to bring a new edition of an existing publication out from another district in the same state and in the same language, then he needs no prior title verification. The publisher can directly file a declaration and submit the required documents to RNI for the Registration number and Certificate issuance. However, prior Title verification is required if the proposed new edition is from another state or in a different language within the same or another state. Read More: Trademark Investigation
Title Ownership in different languages
An applicant who owns a Title in a specific language, state and periodicity does not have any natural claim over the ownership of that Title in another language, state, and periodicity. The verification of the pre-owned Title for another state, language or periodicity will be subject to availability as per guidelines. Read More: Trademark Renewal
Annual Statement of the Newspaper
Applicants who have registered publications already in their name in RNI records must ensure that he has filed the latest Annual Statement for the registered publication in the office of RNI before applying for fresh Title(s).
