Reader answer checklist
This guide is structured to answer the practical questions a reader should resolve before relying on the topic.
- Direct answer
- Section 106 describes the exclusive copyright rights that allow an owner to control reproduction, derivative works, distribution, public performance, public display, and qualifying digital audio transmissions.
- Who this is for
- Creators, licensees, and students learning which copyright permission a music or media transaction may require.
- Practical example
- A sync placement may involve reproduction, adaptation, distribution, and performance questions even though the parties describe it simply as a license.
- Limits and exceptions
- Exceptions, limitations, fair use, compulsory licenses, ownership transfers, and jurisdiction-specific rules can change how a right applies.
- What to do next
- List the proposed use, map it to the relevant exclusive right, and identify the license, exception, or professional advice needed.
Evidence records
verified- United States Code, Title 17 — Copyrights — U.S. Copyright Office · Title 17, Chapter 1
Source records identify the evidence to review; they do not replace a claim-by-claim legal review. See the source index for the audit trail.
Editorial record
verified- Last edited
- 2026-07-17
- Reviewed
- 2026-08-07
- Reviewer
- Michael Ruiz
Reviewed by Michael Ruiz on 2026-08-07. Recheck date-sensitive rules and contract terms for a specific matter. See the editorial policy for the review process.
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.