From: cyber1@io.org (Cyber City)
Date: Wed Jun 01 17:14:09 EDT 1994
Subject: Canadian law supporting right to anonymity


On the subject of legal actions by pseudonymous entities, while I am
regrettably ignorant of U.S. copyright laws, readers here might find it
interesting that the new Canadian Copyright Act guarantees the right of
an author to write under a pseudonym. For example:

        Section 14.1. Moral Rights

        (1) The author of a work has, subject to section 28.2, the right
            to the integrity of the work and, in connection with an act
            mentioned in section 3, the right, where reasonable in the
            circumstances, to be associated with the work as its author
            by name or under a pseudonym and the right to remain
            anonymous.                           ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
            ^^^^^^^^^
        (2) No assignment of moral rights.-- Moral rights may not be
            assigned, but may be waived in whole or in part.

Section 3, referred to above, gives the author the sole right to
produce, reproduce, perform, publish, convert, and - in the case of
art - to communicate by telecommunication.

        Section 28.2. Nature of Right of Integrity

 (1) The author's right to the integrity of a work is infringed
            only if the work is, to the prejudice of the honour or
            reputation of the author,
            (a) distorted, mutilated, or otherwise modified; or
            (b) used in association with a product, service, cause or
                institution.

Under the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention, these
rights are enforceable in other countries only if those countries
guarantee the same rights to their own citizens.