Moral Rights and Issues

When reproducing artwork, remember that under the moral rights provisions of the Copyright Act, artists have the rights of integrity and attribution, and the right against false attribution.

The moral right of integrity means that the artist can take action against inappropriate treatment of their artwork. 

The Moral Rights Amendments to the Copyright Act were introduced in December 2000 and provide some new ways to challenge inappropriate treatment of Indigenous artworks. These new laws provide the following rights to artists: The right to be attributed as the artist – Artists can require their names be clearly and prominently reproduced alongside all reproductions of their works. The right not to have work falsely attributed to another artist – Artists can take action against parties who falsely attribute others as the creators of their works. The right of integrity – Artists can take action against parties who subject their works to inappropriate treatment.