Legal Definitions - right of attribution

The right of attribution is a legal principle, often recognized within copyright law, that grants creators the fundamental right to be identified as the author or originator of their work. This means that whenever their creative work is used, reproduced, or presented to the public, their name or chosen pseudonym should be clearly associated with it. It is considered a "moral right" because it protects the creator's personal connection and reputation linked to their work, separate from any economic rights they might have (like the right to sell or license the work).

• Example 1: A Novelist's Published Work

  Imagine a novelist named Anya who spends years writing a compelling historical fiction novel. When her publisher releases the book, Anya's right of attribution ensures that her name, "Anya Sharma," is prominently displayed on the book's cover, title page, and in all promotional materials. This legally obligates the publisher to credit her as the author, acknowledging her original creative effort.

• Example 2: A Photographer's Image in an Advertisement

  Consider a freelance photographer, Ben, who captures a striking image of a city skyline at dusk. A marketing agency licenses this photograph to use in a national advertising campaign for a tourism board. Ben's right of attribution dictates that even though the agency is paying to use his work, they must include a credit line, such as "Photo by Ben Carter," alongside the image in the advertisements, on websites, and in brochures. This ensures his authorship is recognized by the public.

• Example 3: A Software Developer's Code Contribution

  Suppose a software developer, Clara, contributes a significant and innovative module of code to an open-source project. When the project is compiled and released, or when other developers build upon her specific module, Clara's right of attribution (often stipulated in the open-source license) means that her name or developer handle must be included in the project's documentation, source code comments, or contributor list. This acknowledges her intellectual contribution to the software.