Can copyrights be assigned?
Under Swiss law, copyrights – with the exception of the moral rights – can be assigned; Authors, however, can also simply give permission (licenses) for certain uses. Moral rights – i.e., the right to be named as author (in French) – cannot be transferred because the sale of parts of one’s personality would be seen immoral and a corresponding contract to that effect would be void according to Article 20, paragraph 1 CO (Code of Obligations (in French)). It is possible, however, to waive the exercising of the right to be named in a contract, for example.
