Ophavspersoner

Ophavspersoner is a term used in some Scandinavian-language contexts to refer to the person or persons who originate and create a work and who are credited as its originators. Depending on the field, it aligns with what English-language bibliographic records call the author, inventor, composer, or designer—the primary creator(s) of the work.

Etymology and variants: The form combines ophav/opphav meaning origin or authorship with personer meaning persons. In Norwegian Bokmål the standard term is opphavspersoner; in Danish texts the form ophavspersoner is encountered. The concept is most often used in bibliographic, archival, and copyright contexts.

Usage and scope: Ophavspersoner identify the original creator(s) credited with a work's origin. They are distinguished from contributors such as editors, translators, illustrators, or performers. The designation is important for attribution and rights management and is used across literature, music, film, art, and software. In cataloging and metadata schemas, the ophavsperson field records the primary creators who established the work's existence.

Limitations: The term refers to originators, not necessarily all contributors; multi-person works may list multiple ophavspersoner. The label's exact use varies by institution and language community. See also related concepts such as author, creator, originator, and intellectual property rights.