Freedom Mural Alterations

Posted by dsrito on November 7, 2007 · Leave a Comment

I bought a copy of last Sunday’s issue (November 4th) of Philippine Daily Inquirer but I’m so busy and was not able to read it, except scanning a few pages. Though vividly, I can recall its front page photo and headline – “Freedom Mural Defiled: Artists outraged by NPC Censorship” which now is the talk of the town.

Much as I want to delve into the deeper issues, I’d like instead to focus on the issue of copyright. RA 8293 define’s artists rights – both economic (right to earn or obtain financial benefit from their original creative work) and moral rights (right to the integrity of the creative work).

This means that the art work, even sold to another party cannot be altered, defaced or destroyed without permission from its creator. Moral rights include the rights to – require that the authorship of the works be attributed to him, To make any alterations of his work prior to, or to withhold it from publication; to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of, or other derogatory action in relation to, his work which would be prejudicial to his honor or reputation; and to restrain the use of his name with respect to any work not of his own creation or in a distorted version of his work. Ref: RA 8293 Sec. 193