author / originator
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author / creator
The person who has created an intellectual or artistic work, e.g. a book, a piece of music, or a photo, and therefore owns the copyright to it.
Der Urheber des Fotos muss bei der Veröffentlichung genannt werden.
The creator of the photo must be named when it is published.
originator
The person or entity that has caused or triggered something, often a negative development or event.
Die Polizei sucht noch nach dem Urheber des Brandanschlags.
The police are still looking for the originator of the arson attack.
The prefix 'Ur-' means 'original' or 'initial'. An 'Urheber' (author/originator) is therefore the person who created or caused something first of all.
Er ist der Urheber dieser genialen Idee.
He is the originator of this brilliant idea.
To connect the 'Urheber' (author/originator) with their work or act, you use the preposition 'von' followed by the dative. Alternatively, the genitive can also be used, but that sounds more formal.
Wer ist der Urheber von diesem Gemälde?
Who is the creator of this painting?
'Urheber' (author/creator) is the central term in German copyright law. It refers to the person who owns the rights to a creative work.
Das Urheberrecht schützt den Urheber eines Werkes.
Copyright law protects the creator of a work.
In this meaning, 'Urheber' (originator) is almost always used for the cause or perpetrator of something negative, for example a rumor, an accident, or a crime.
Die Polizei konnte den Urheber des Diebstahls schnell fassen.
The police were able to catch the perpetrator of the theft quickly.
father
Vater and Urheber can describe someone as the origin of an important intellectual achievement. Urheber attributes the specific creation of a work to a person. Vater is more figurative and emphasizes instead that someone established and permanently shaped an important idea or development.
Als Verfasser des ersten Manifests gilt Paul als Urheber dieses Werkes.
As the author of the first manifesto, Paul is considered the originator of this work.
Wegen seines prägenden Einflusses gilt Paul als Vater der neuen Kunstrichtung.
Because of his formative influence, Paul is considered the father of the new art movement.
