The reproduction right is one of the exclusive rights granted to the owner of a copyright by the Copyright Act. Under this right, no one other than the copyright owner may make any reproductions or copies of the work. Under the Copyright Act, the copyright owner has the exclusive right to reproduce the copyrighted work or to authorize its reproduction. Examples of unauthorized acts which are prohibited under this right include photocopying a book, copying a computer software program, using a cartoon character on a T-shirt, and incorporating a portion of another’s song into a new song. The Copyright Act covers reproduction in any form.
Infringement of the Reproduction Rights
It is not necessary that the entire original work be copied for an infringement of the reproduction right to occur. All that is necessary is that the copying be substantial and material.
Reproduction for Blind or Other People with Disabilities Exception
It is not an infringement of copyright for an authorized entity to reproduce copies or phonorecords of a previously published, nondramatic literary work if such copies or phonorecords are reproduced in specialized formats exclusively for use by blind or other persons with disabilities.
Reproduction by Libraries and Archives Exception
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 no more than one copy or phonorecord of a work, with a few exceptions and under certain conditions.