An author has economic rights (relating to the use of his work) and moral rights (which protect his personality).

The economic rights are:

• the reproduction right, which includes material reproductions (CDs, DVDs, books, downloads, etc.), intellectual reproductions (translation, adaptation), rental and lending, and distribution.
• the performing right for communicating to the public (concert, performance, broadcasting, Internet, etc.)  
• the resale right whereby the author of a work of visual art is entitled to a percentage in the event of a public sale.
   

The moral rights are:

• the right to disclose the work

            The author decides if and when the work is ‘ready’ to be published.

• the right to authorship

            The author may claim or refuse to be recognised as the author of the work.

• the right to respect for his work

The author may take action against any modification of his work which may harm his honour or reputation.