Role of copyright
Copyright protection
Copyright allows you to protect your original material and stops others from using your work without your permission. The existence of copyright may be enough on its own to stop others from trying to exploit your material. If it does not, it gives you the right to take legal action to stop them exploiting your copyright, and to claim damages.
By understanding and using your copyright and related rights protection, you can:
- sell the copyright but retain the moral rights.
- license your copyright for use by others but retain the ownership.
- object if your work is distorted or mutilated.
Copyright gives the right owner numerous exclusive economic rights
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/copy/c-about/c-benefit.htm
Moral rights
Moral rights are granted to the authors of literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works and to film directors:
- to be identified as the author of the work or director of the film in certain circumstances, e.g. when copies are issued to the public
- to object to derogatory treatment of the work or film which amounts to a distortion or mutilation or is otherwise prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author or director
In contrast to the economic rights under copyright, moral rights are concerned with protecting the personality and reputation of authors. The right to be identified cannot be exercised unless it has been asserted, i.e. the author or director has indicated their wish to exercise the right by giving notice to this effect (which generally has to be in writing and signed) to those seeking to use or exploit the work or film. Moreover, both the right to be identified and the right to object to derogatory treatment can be waived by the author or director.
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/c-otherprotect-faq-moralrights.htm
