Indian Law Protects Deceased Composers' Moral Rights

Under Section 57 of India's Copyright Act, heirs of deceased music composers retain moral rights even after copyright ownership is transferred to labels. These include the right of attribution, ensuring the composer is credited, and the right of integrity, which allows legal representatives to challenge distortions that damage the author's reputation.

The 2012 Copyright Amendment Act empowered legal heirs to enforce these rights and seek damages for prejudicial modifications. While labels hold the commercial right to create adaptations like remixes, they cannot remove a composer's name or alter works in ways that harm the author's honor.

Editor's note: The brief accurately synthesizes the legal explanation regarding Section 57 of the Copyright Act and the scope of moral rights for heirs.