Legal Definitions - integrity right

The integrity right is a legal principle, primarily recognized in civil-law countries (such as many nations in Europe), that grants authors and artists the power to prevent unauthorized alterations or distortions of their creative works. This right ensures that the original artistic vision and reputation of the creator are protected, allowing them to object to changes that could harm the work's integrity or their honor.

Here are some examples illustrating the integrity right:

• Imagine a renowned sculptor creates a large, intricate public art installation for a city square. Years later, without consulting the sculptor, the city council decides to add a new, brightly colored banner to the sculpture and remove a key structural element to make it "more accessible." If the sculptor had an integrity right, they could legally challenge these modifications, arguing that the changes fundamentally alter the artistic message, balance, and original intent of their work, thereby damaging its integrity and their artistic reputation.

• Consider a celebrated novelist whose critically acclaimed book is adapted into a film. The film director, without the novelist's consent, significantly changes the protagonist's core motivations, alters the ending to be much more commercially appealing, and removes crucial thematic elements that were central to the book's message. In a jurisdiction recognizing the integrity right, the novelist could assert this right to object to these substantial alterations, arguing that the film adaptation distorts the essence and artistic integrity of their original literary work.