Conferring 'Moral Rights' on Actors

The Manisha Koirala case has served to highlight the absence of protection to film actors in the Indian Copyright Act. Indian film stars have a global fan-following which translates into considerable commercial value. It is important that their on-screen image be protected. Such legal protection can be afforded by conferring `moral rights' - the right to be acknowledged as the creator of a work and the right to prevent distortion/mutilation of one's work.