Moral rights ensure you (the creator) are properly credited and that your work isn't used in any way that damages your reputation.
You have rights to
1. Be credited
Your name must be correctly acknowledged.
2. Not have your work falsely credited
No one else can claim they wrote your song.
3. Not have your work treated unfairly
Your song can’t be changed in a way that harms your reputation (e.g. edited lyrics that distort your message).
If someone changes the lyrics of your song to say something offensive, you can raise a moral rights issue.
Moral rights can’t be sold or transferred – they always belong to the creator!
Music: Respecting Moral Rights
On Triple J's Like a Version, artists cover well-known songs.
They are shared widely on radio, YouTube, and Spotify — so it’s important that moral rights are respected.
When The Terrys covered Changes by Black Sabbath on Triple J’s Like a Version, they respected moral rights by:
- Crediting the original songwriters in the video description, Spotify listing, and promo posts
- Keeping the spirit and meaning of the original song intact
Takeaway
Respecting moral rights means making sure the original songwriters are credited – just like you deserve to be credited for your own songs.
Art: Breaching Moral Rights
Woman’s Day magazine wrongly credited a painter of a portrait that was actually painted by a different painter.
The painter got an in-person apology, but the magazine delayed a public correction for almost a year.
The painter sued the publisher and the Court ruled in his favour:
- $1,100 in damages for moral rights infringement (for failing to credit Turner)
- $8,000 extra for the distress caused by the delay
Takeaway
As the creator, you always deserve credit for your work – and so does every other artist.
Spot the Difference
- In the music case study, what did The Terrys do to respect moral rights?
- In the art case study, what went wrong?
- Why do you think it’s important for creators to be properly credited?
Ways to Protect Your Moral Rights
1. Write it down
Specify your credit on relevant documents like split sheets and contracts or when uploading to platforms (Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, Bandcamp).
2. Check the Credits
Make sure your name shows up the way you want in credits.
3. Speak Up
Wrongly credited? You can raise it as a moral rights issue. Check out this page to see where you can get help.
Protecting Your Moral Rights
Think about a song you’ve written, real or imagined:
- Write the title of your song and how you would like to be credited.
Example: Socks in the Freezer – Written and composed by [Your Name] - What’s one way you can make sure you are credited properly?
