What is the 106 copyright law?

Asked by: Sharon Hegmann DDS  |  Last update: February 15, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (19 votes)

Section 106 of U.S. Copyright Law (17 U.S. Code § 106) defines the core exclusive rights of a copyright owner, granting them the sole authority to reproduce the work, create derivative works, distribute copies, publicly perform (for certain works), publicly display (for certain works), and digitally perform (for sound recordings). These fundamental "bundle of rights" are subject to limitations in subsequent sections (107-122) of the Copyright Act, like fair use.

What is Section 106 of the copyright Act?

—Clause (3) of section 106 establishes the exclusive right of publication: The right “to distribute copies or phonorecords of the copyrighted work to the public by sale or other transfer of ownership, or by rental, lease, or lending.” Under this provision the copyright owner would have the right to control the first ...

How do you put a disclaimer to avoid copyright?

There are four primary components of a copyright disclaimer:

  1. The copyright symbol.
  2. The year of publication.
  3. The name of the owner.
  4. A statement reserving the rights of the owner.

What is the 107 copyright law?

Section 107 lists various purposes for which reproduction of a work may be considered "fair," such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Can I use 2 seconds of a copyrighted song?

No, there's no magical number of seconds (like two) that makes using a copyrighted song legal; even a tiny snippet can be infringement, as it depends on the context of "fair use" (transformation, purpose, amount) and copyright holders can claim or strike your content, though short clips are less likely to be detected automatically. The safest bet is always to get permission, use licensed music libraries, or ensure your use is highly transformative (like parody). 

Exclusive Rights of a Copyright Holder under 17 U.S.C 106

16 related questions found

How much of a song can you use without paying?

There's no hard and fast minimum amount of music you can use without getting permission when you need it.

What is the 3 minute rule in music?

The "3-minute rule" in music refers to the traditional length of hit pop songs, rooted in the physical limitations of early vinyl records (78 rpm) and the commercial needs of radio for ad space, creating a standard ~3-minute format that became ingrained in listener expectations and songwriting structure, though modern technology allows for longer tracks. This convention encouraged concise, catchy songs with clear hooks and verse-chorus structures that fit the format, influencing artists for decades.
 

What is the 102 copyright law?

102.

(b) In no case does copyright protection for an original work of authorship extend to any idea, procedure, process, system, method of operation, concept, principle, or discovery, regardless of the form in which it is described, explained, illustrated, or embodied in such work.

What is the S 111 copyright law?

(1) This section applies if a person makes a cinematograph film or sound recording of a broadcast solely for private and domestic use by watching or listening to the material broadcast at a time more convenient than the time when the broadcast is made.

How do I prove fair use?

What is the test for fair use?

  1. the purpose and character of the use, including whether the use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes;
  2. the nature of the copyrighted work;
  3. the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and.

How to not get sued for copyright?

  1. Understand what copyright laws protect. ...
  2. Do not copy anything. ...
  3. Don't use any content without consent. ...
  4. Create unique content. ...
  5. Always get written copyright agreements. ...
  6. Make your copyright policy clear to customers.

What is the 3 month rule for copyright?

The "copyright 3 month rule" refers to a key deadline for U.S. copyright registration: you must register your work within three months of its first publication (or before infringement begins) to be eligible to claim statutory damages and attorney's fees in a copyright infringement lawsuit, which can be crucial for remedies beyond just an injunction. Failing to meet this deadline means you generally can only sue for actual damages (harder to prove) if infringement occurs, but registration is still vital for other benefits and to sue at all, notes Donahue Fitzgerald LLP and Cotman IP. 

What is a good sentence for copyright?

The book is under copyright. His family still holds the copyright to his songs. The copyright wasn't renewed on the Keaton film and it's been in the public domain since 1956.

What does section 106 do?

The Section 106 regulations lay out certain requirements for Federal agencies to consider how their projects may affect historic properties and measures to avoid or minimize resulting impacts that are adverse.

What are the three things not protected by copyright?

Three categories of items not protected by copyright include ideas, methods, and systems, names, titles, and short phrases/slogans, and works of the U.S. government, as copyright protects original expressions fixed in a tangible form, not concepts or public domain material. Other examples include facts, common information, functional designs, and unrecorded performances. 

What are three examples of violating copyright laws?

Copyright Infringement

  • Downloading and sharing MP3 files of music, videos, and games without permission of the copyright owner.
  • Using corporate logos without permission.
  • Placing an electronic copy of a standardized test on a department's web site without permission of the copyright owner.

What is the 108 copyright law?

Notwithstanding the exclusive rights of the owners of copyright, section 108 provides that under certain conditions it is not an infringement of copyright for a library or archives, or any of its employees acting within the scope of their employment, to reproduce or distribute not more than one copy or phonorecord of a ...

What is the 95 year copyright rule?

For an anonymous work, a pseudonymous work, or a work made for hire, the copyright endures for a term of 95 years from the year of its first publication or a term of 120 years from the year of its creation, whichever expires first.

What is the copyright law 109?

§ 109(a)) gives the owners of copyrighted works the rights to sell, lend, or share their copies without having to obtain permission or pay fees. The copy becomes like any piece of physical property; you've purchased it, you own it. You cannot make copies and sell them—the copyright owner retains those rights.

What is section 107 of copyright?

Section 107 of the Copyright Act provides the statutory framework for determining whether something is a fair use and identifies certain types of uses—such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research—as examples of activities that may qualify as fair use.

What is the Article 17 copyright?

The main purpose of Article 17 is to reduce the amount of unauthorized copyrighted material available online. This entails a requirement on content-sharing platforms to obtain authorization from the rights-holder, for example in the form of a license, before it displays copyrighted material uploaded by its users.

What song takes 600 years to play?

The song that takes over 600 years to play is John Cage's composition, "Organ²/ASLSP" (As Slow as Possible), currently being performed on a specially built organ in Halberstadt, Germany, with the entire performance scheduled to last 639 years, ending in 2640. The piece began in 2001 and involves extremely long chord changes, with some notes lasting years, making it an extreme meditation on time and patience. 

What is the 80/20 rule in songwriting?

The 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) in songwriting means 80% of a song's impact comes from 20% of its core elements, like the hook, melody, and structure, while the rest is polish or filler. It guides writers to focus on those vital 20% (catchy hooks, strong lyrics/melody) for major results, while also suggesting that in production, the final 20% of mixing/arrangement takes 80% of the time, and in business, 20% of your songs yield 80% of plays. 

What is the #1 saddest song?

There's no single "number 1" saddest song because sadness is subjective, but R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts," Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt," and Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven" are consistently cited as top contenders in polls and discussions, often due to themes of shared pain, deep regret, and profound grief, respectively, with scientific analyses pointing to elements like minor chords and vocal delivery.