Legal Definitions - reproduction right

The reproduction right is a core component of copyright law that grants the creator or owner of an original work the exclusive authority to make copies of that work. This means only the copyright holder can legally duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce the protected material in any form. If someone else makes copies without permission, it is considered copyright infringement.

Here are some examples to illustrate the reproduction right:

• Scenario: A university student scans an entire textbook and uploads it to a file-sharing website, allowing hundreds of other students to download the digital version for free, bypassing the need to purchase the physical book.

  Explanation: The author and publisher of the textbook hold the reproduction right. By scanning and uploading the book, the student created and distributed unauthorized digital copies of the copyrighted work, directly infringing upon the publisher's exclusive right to reproduce the text.

• Scenario: A local band records a cover version of a popular song and then presses 500 CDs to sell at their concerts, without obtaining a mechanical license from the original songwriter or music publisher.

  Explanation: The original songwriter and music publisher possess the exclusive reproduction right for their musical composition. The band's action of pressing 500 CDs constitutes making physical copies of the copyrighted song without authorization, thereby violating the reproduction right.

• Scenario: A graphic designer finds a striking photograph online, which is clearly marked with a copyright notice. Without seeking permission or purchasing a license, the designer incorporates the photo into a new advertising campaign, printing thousands of flyers and posters featuring the image.

  Explanation: The photographer owns the reproduction right to their image. By using the photograph in an advertising campaign and printing numerous copies of the flyers and posters, the designer has reproduced the copyrighted visual work without authorization, infringing on the photographer's exclusive right.