Comparative Law Researches

Comparative Law Researches

A Contractability of Author's Moral Rights in Iran and the European Union

Authors
Mohammad Javad Mohammad Karimi 1
Pejman Mohammadi 2
1 Ph.D Student of International Trade & Investment Law, Faculty of Law, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor of Department of Intellectual Property Law, Faculty of Law, University of Tarbiat Modares, Tehran, Iran
10.48311/CLR.29.2.4
Abstract
Intellectual creations are products of human thought, taste, and creativity. Creators express their personality, desires, and emotions through their literary and artistic works, making each work a reflection of their identity. Given the close connection between moral rights and the creator’s personality, the concept of "Inalienability" is considered one of the fundamental characteristics of these rights. This principle not only renders the transfer of these rights impossible but also prevents any action that would permanently and irrevocably remove moral rights from the creator’s domain. However, when considering the economic dimensions of moral rights and the creator’s autonomy in determining the fate of their work, distinct from personality rights, there exists the potential for waiving these rights under certain conditions. This makes it possible to reach agreements concerning moral rights through various methods and approaches. While this perspective may seem inconceivable or undesirable to adherents of civil law systems, including those of the Iranian legal system and the European Union, it is not entirely implausible.

This research, through an analytical-descriptive approach, concludes that despite the acceptance of the principle of inalienability in the two mentioned legal systems, due to economic justifications and technical and practical considerations in copyright exploitation contracts, agreements related to moral rights are not inconceivable. Under specific conditions and for various purposes, such agreements are possible, and there are legal capacities available for their realization.
Keywords
Moral Rights
Inalienability
Partial Waiver
Economic Efficiency of Contracts
Transfer of Right

Subjects

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