To tribal peoples, a song, story or icon does not belong to an individual but to the collective. Rights are often exercised by only one individual in each generation often by matrilineal descent. There are creator's rights that exist 'outside' of the Copyright Act. Generally they derive from the Civil Code tradition and can not be transferred by contract from a creator to a proprietor. Furthermore, national treatment often need not be extended to non-residents allowing a nation, state or province to target and reward the creativity of its own citizens.
Some American examples demonstrate.
First, the Chip Protection Act provides copyright-like protection for the design of integrated circuit chips, but only for U.S. manufacturers. This right is similar to 'moral rights' granted to creators under the Civil Code and by the Canadian Copyright Act. Fourth, at the state level, the right of following sales or droit de suivre has been granted to visual artists resident in California. A young artist sells low but as his or her career matures earlier works increase in value. While collectors benefit from the re-sale of early works, the artist gets nothing.