17 U.S.C. § 106 - Exclusive Rights in Copyrighted Works

The Six Exclusive Rights under § 106

Section 106 of the Copyright Act of 1976 is the absolute foundation of all copyright-based industries. It grants copyright owners a bundle of six separate, exclusive statutory monopolies over how their works are used:

1. Reproduction (17 U.S.C. § 106(1)): The exclusive right to make physical or digital copies of the work (e.g., pressing vinyl, caching a stream, downloading a file). 2. Derivative Works (17 U.S.C. § 106(2)): The right to create adaptations or remixes (e.g., translating lyrics, sampling, creating arrangements). 3. Distribution (17 U.S.C. § 106(3)): The right to sell, rent, lease, or distribute copies of the work to the public. 4. Public Performance (17 U.S.C. § 106(4)): The right to perform the work publicly (applicable to literary, musical, dramatic, choreographic works, etc.). 5. Public Display (17 U.S.C. § 106(5)): The right to display the work publicly (e.g., showing lyrics on a screen, printing them on merchandise). 6. Sound Recording Digital Performance (17 U.S.C. § 106(6)): The right to perform sound recordings publicly by means of a digital audio transmission (e.g., non-interactive streaming, webcasts, satellite radio).

Severability A rights holder can split, lease, license, sell, or assign any of these six rights completely independently or in combinations, creating the diverse licensing pathways of the music business.