Relationship Between Copyright And Human Rights

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to draw attention to relationship between copyright and human rights, since both provide not only a better standard of living for individuals and creators ,but also contribute effectively to the economic, social and cultural development. Moreover copyright is an expression of ideas, and the right of expression of opinion is a human right. The methodology of the study is comparative and analytical. The dissertation concentrates on Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948 which guarantees the rights of authors, both moral and economic rights, and at the same time preserves the rights of the community as a whole to have an access to works protected by copyright for the purpose of dissemination of knowledge. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 1966, especially article 15 (1) (c), translates the spiritual obligation under the Universal Declaration into specific legal obligations to be implemented by states parties. In conclusion, human rights framework in which copyright is placed necessitates a number of imperative guidelines, for example: copyright must be consistent with the understanding of human dignity in the various human rights instruments; copyright regimes must respect the freedoms indispensable for creative activity, and lastly copyright regimes must encourage the development of international contacts and cooperation in the cultural fields.