Moral rights are the legal rights granted to an author/creator of their work, which allow them to maintain control over their creations even after the presentment of it. This means that even if the original author sells or transfers the rights and ownership of the work to business, they still retain some entitlements over future uses and adaptations of their work.
In the digital age, moral rights are becoming increasingly important as business owners become more aware of the need to protect corporate reputation. Owners must be conscious of their moral duty to respect an author’s moral rights, so as to prevent unforeseen legal backlash.
Examples of Moral Rights
In most countries, moral rights are legally defined and protected. France, under the International Copyright Code, is particularly famous for its legal provisions for protecting moral rights. Here are some of the common examples of moral rights which businesses should be aware of:
- Attribution – The right to be acknowledged as the author of the work.
- Integrity – The right to protect the work of the author from mutilation or any other form of modification.
- Public disclosure – The right to make the work publicly available.
- Withdrawal – The right to withdraw permission to use the work.
Conclusion
Moral rights are important legal considerations that businesses should be aware of in order to safeguard against future legal issues. Knowing the rights of a creator over their work, and respecting these rights, is a moral obligation for any business or corporation.