Considering the lack of conventional grounds for the existence in the legislation of Ukraine of the author’s right to access their work embodied in things belonging to the owner, the non-standard nature of such a right is evident, which should be perceived not as a limitation of ownership, but as an encumbrance thereof. This means that the relations that arise between the author of the work and the owner of the thing in which such work is embodied are binding and legal. Moreover, these binding legal relations are of an active type, which is pivotal for the legal and material essence of such legal relations.

In view of the position of the norm on the right of access in the system of Ukraine’s copyright legislation, the national legislator appears to show a measure of uncertainty in determining the legal nature of this right. Taking into account the established view of the right of access as a personal non-property right, which is due, among other things, to the influence of the German philosophy of law, it is suggested that it should still be perceived as a sui generis right, its place being in the system of the copyright-related rights, and its role consisting in ensuring an ideal connection between the author and their work.

Attention is drawn to the peculiar disproportionality of this encumbrance, including due to the fact that under the Ukrainian copyright legislation, it is only works of fine art that are subject to such encumbrance, although nothing prevents it from being extended to works of decorative and applied art.

It is concluded that the right of access to the work is inherently obligatory, and exercise thereof cannot be denied to the author of the work (naturally, with due consideration for the rather meager legal interests of the owner of the thing) because the encumbrance established by the legislator is intended to protect the good of a higher order – copyright – because of its vulnerability.

The purpose of the article is to provide practical advice on the implementation by the author and the owner, respectively, of their rights and legally protected interests in the context of the right of access to the work.

Bibliography

Authored books

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2. Butnik-Siverskyi S, Spadkuvannia prav intelektualnoi vlasnosti (NVP Interservis 2013) (in Ukrainian).

3. Lejst O, Sushhnost’ prava. Problemy teorii i filosofii prava (KNT 2021) (in Russian).

4. Maidanyk R, Rechove pravo: pidruchnyk (Alerta 2019) (in Ukrainian).

5. Mejer D, Russkoe grazhdanskoe pravo / chtenija D. I. Mejera (6-e izdanie, tipografija D V Chichanadze 1894) (in Russian).

6. Michurin E, Osushhestvlenie i ogranichenie imushhestvennyh prav (Jurist 2011) (in Russian).

7. Rozghon O, Mezhi ta obmezhennia prava vlasnosti (FOP Lysiak L S 2006) (in Ukrainian).

8. Shtefan A, Avtorske pravo i sumizhni prava: osoblyvosti pravovoi okhorony, zdiisnennia ta zakhystu (NVP Interservis 2017) (in Ukrainian).

Edited books

 9. Schulze G, ‘ZugangzuWerkstücken’ v Dreier T, Schulze G, Urheberrechts-DiensteanbieterGesetz, Verwertungsgesellschaftengesetz, Nebenurheberrecht, Kunsturhebergesetz. Kom mentar (6 Auflage. 2018, C.H.BECK Verlag) (in German).

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Journal articles

12. Thomas Merrill, ‘Accession and Original Ownership’ [2009] 1 (2) Journal of legal Analysis 459–510 (in English).

13. Kryvolapov B, ‘Osoblyvosti zakhystu avtorskykh prav na tvory obrazotvorchoho mystetstva’ [2021] 3 Analitychno-porivnialne pravoznavstvo 49 (in Ukrainian).

14. Tomarov I, ‘Osobysti nemainovi prava na rezultaty intelektualnoi diialnosti’ [2006] 3 (26) Zovnishnia torhivlia: pravo ta ekonomika 94 (in Ukrainian).

15. Vereitsi O, ‘Avtorski povnovazhennia z nevyznachenoiu pravovoiu pryrodoiu’ (2017) 1 Pravo intelektualnoi vlasnosti 176 (in Ukrainian).

Theses

16. Samsin R, ‘Pravo sliduvannia v avtorskomu pravi Ukrainy ta krain-chleniv YeS: porivnialno-pravova kharakterystyka’ (dys kand yuryd nauk, 2016) (in Ukrainian).