The Current State of Moral Rights Protection for Visual Artists in the United States

Works of art have been recognized by Congress to embody more than a physical object; rather, these works can be seen to represent the artist's personality. The Visual Artists Rights Act, which codifies moral rights protection in the United States, provides legal recourse for artists whose works have been altered or destroyed in violation of this principle. During the past ten years, several states have also enacted moral rights legislation. This Note explores the current state of moral rights in the United States, with an emphasis upon those states where both federal and state moral rights statutes exist.