Related rights as a term is used to describe rights in copyright not connected to the real author of the work. The related rights can for instance, have bearing on the rights of broadcasters and performers. Related rights also refer to the protection of the filmmaker and database creator’s rights. As such the rights are not related to the original author, but in effect are relevant to the creation of an end product. In essence then the related rights are those rights that do not fall within the Berne Union scope, but are protected by the Rome Convention.
Numerous treaties are in place to protect related rights including the IPIC Treaty of 1989, the WPPT of 1996, and the TRIPS of 1994. A music CD is protected by means of related rights in addition to author rights. The related rights include that of the performer’s rights and producer rights. Related rights are most used when it comes to performers such as actors or musicians. The rights can also include the moral rights of the musicians or actors in addition to the economic rights as protected under the Rome Convention.
One should note that there is a difference between the right to perform a piece and the performers’ rights. The first has to do with a license agreement allowing the licensee to have a public performance of a piece while the latter entails the related rights of the performer. Performing rights entail the payment of royalties and the performer related rights entail the right to prevent reproduction of a performance, recording of a performance, and the broadcasting of a performance by the musician or actor. Related rights being an integral part of performance based copyright protected work are complex and best explained by intellectual property attorneys.