Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/12pdf/11-697_d1o2.pdf
Page Number: 7.0

Cite as:  568 U. S. ____ (2013) 

3 

Opinion of the Court 

Int’l,  Inc.,  523  U. S.  135,  145  (1998),  we  held  that
§602(a)(1)’s  reference  to  §106(3)’s  exclusive  distribution 
right  incorporates  the  later  subsections’  limitations,  in­
cluding,  in  particular,  the  “first  sale”  doctrine  of  §109.
Thus, it might seem that, §602(a)(1) notwithstanding, one
who  buys  a  copy  abroad  can  freely  import  that  copy  into
the United States and dispose of it, just as he could had he 
bought the copy in the United States.

But  Quality  King  considered  an  instance  in  which  the 

copy,  though  purchased  abroad,  was  initially  manufac­
tured  in  the  United  States  (and  then  sent  abroad  and
sold).  This case is like Quality King but for one important 
fact.  The copies at issue here were manufactured abroad.
That fact is important because §109(a) says that the “first 
sale” doctrine applies to “a particular copy or phonorecord 
lawfully made under this title.”  And we must decide here 
whether  the  five  words,  “lawfully  made  under  this  title,”
make a critical legal difference. 

Putting  section  numbers  to  the  side,  we  ask  whether 
the “first sale” doctrine applies to protect a buyer or other
lawful  owner  of  a  copy  (of  a  copyrighted  work)  lawfully
manufactured  abroad.  Can  that  buyer  bring  that  copy
into the United States (and sell it or give it away) without 
obtaining  permission  to  do  so  from  the  copyright  owner?
Can,  for  example,  someone  who  purchases,  say  at  a  used 
bookstore,  a  book  printed  abroad  subsequently  resell  it 
without the copyright owner’s permission?

In our view, the answers to these questions are, yes.  We 
hold  that  the  “first  sale”  doctrine  applies  to  copies  of  a 
copyrighted work lawfully made abroad. 

I 

A 

Respondent,  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  Inc.,  publishes  aca-
demic  textbooks.    Wiley  obtains  from  its  authors  various 
foreign  and  domestic  copyright  assignments,  licenses  and