ophavsmand

Ophavsmand is a Danish noun meaning the person who creates a work and thereby holds the authorship or origin of that work. The term is used in both everyday language and in legal contexts to designate the author or inventor of a piece of literature, art, music, software, design, or other creative output.

Etymology and usage: The word combines ophav (“origin, birth”) with mand (“man”), and inflects as ophavsmand in the indefinite singular. The definite form is ophavsmanden; plural ophavsmænd; definite plural ophavsmændene.

Legal context: In Danish copyright law, the ophavsmand generally holds the rights to exploit the work and to be publicly attributed as its creator. There are also moral rights that ensure attribution and integrity of the work; these rights, and economic rights, can be assigned, licensed, or transferred by contract.

Scope and examples: The term covers writers, composers, designers, programmers, and other creators who originate a work. It is used across cultural, academic, and legal discussions to refer to the originator of a creation.

See also: ophavsret. The concept is central to discussions of authorship and intellectual property in Danish law and culture, and the English equivalents are often given as author, originator, or creator.