Source: https://www.musiclibraryassoc.org/mpage/copyright_uscd
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 18:14:28+00:00

Document:
Federal copyright law is contained within Title 17 of the United States Code, the official version of which is published online by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel. A hyperlinked version can be found at Cornell University's Legal Information Institute (LII).
17 U.S.C. §106: Exclusive rights in copyrighted works.
17 U.S.C. §107: Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use.
17 U.S.C. §108: Reproduction by libraries and archives.
the reproduction or distribution of the work includes a notice of copyright that appears on the copy or phonorecord that is reproduced under the provisions of this section, or includes a legend stating that the work may be protected by copyright if no such notice can be found on the copy or phonorecord that is reproduced under the provisions of this section.
The conditions under which libraries may make such copies are spelled out in subsections (b) through (i). Subsections (b) and (c) apply to preservation copies, subsections (d) and (e) apply to interlibrary loan copies and copies for researchers. It is especially important for music libraries to note that, with the exception of subsections (b) and (c), the provisions of §8 do not apply to musical works.
17 U.S.C. §109: Effect of transfer of particular copy or phonorecord.
This is the codification of the "First Sale Doctrine" in U.S. law. The exclusive rights identified in 17 U.S.C. §6 include the right to 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." If the law stopped there, libraries' practice of lending materials to patrons would require permission from the copyright owner and/or license fees. Section 109 states that once title on an individual copy of a work has been transferred after the first sale each subsequent owner has the right to sell or otherwise dispose of that copy without permission.
There are important exceptions to the law. Subsection (b) of the law states that media containing sound recordings or computer programs are not subject to first sale rights, though it allows libraries those rights provided they meet certain requirements. The law also explicitly states that first sale rights do not apply in cases where the title for the copy has not transferred (i.e., when the copy is loaned, rented, leased, etc.). There are also exceptions which restrict the first sale rights on works whose copyright was restored.
17 U.S.C. §110: Exemption of certain performances and displays.
Section 110 is especially relevant to academic librarians in that it provides additional exemptions to educational institutions with regard to performances or displays of copyrighted works in face-to-face or virtual classrooms. The law is very complicated and has many conditions which must be met before the exemptions take effect. For example, to take advantage of the law, the materials must be obtained lawfully to begin with. In the case of virtual classrooms, the law requires that access be restricted to those enrolled in the class, that the material be directly relevant to the subject matter of the class, and that the institution promote compliance with U.S. Copyright laws.
17 U.S.C. §301: Preemption with respect to other laws.
Section 301 establishes dates and conditions under which the federal copyright laws preempt any state laws under Article 6. One of the most important parts for music libraries to keep in mind is an exception contained within subsection (c), which governs sound recordings. Under 17 U.S.C. 301(c), Sound recordings which are tangibly fixed on or after February 15, 1972 are governed by federal law. All earlier recordings are governed by any applicable laws for the state in which they were produced until February 15, 2067. Until that date, pre-1972 sound recordings may not be subject to fair use, copyright term limitations, or exemptions under §8 or §110.
17 U.S.C. §1201: Circumvention of copyright protection systems.
Section 1201 codifies the anti-circumvention provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The act criminalizes the circumvention of rights management systems and other technological measures used to control copying of, or access to copyrighted material ("access controls"). In addition, §1201 prohibits trafficking in technology that aids in the circumvention of access controls.
Circumvention of audiovisual works in the library of a college or university film or media studies department, but only by film or media studies professors when making compilations for classroom use.
Circumvention of computer programs and video games distributed in formats that have become obsolete and that require the original media or hardware as a condition of access, but only for preservation purposes within a library or archives.
Circumvention of computer programs protected by "dongles" that prevent access due to malfunction or damage and which are obsolete.
Circumvention of ebook controls for purposes of enabling a "read aloud' function.
Circumvention of cellphone firmware for the sole purpose of lawfully connecting to a wireless telephone communication network.
Circumvention of sound and video recordings which or exploit security flaws or vulnerabilities that compromise the security of personal computers, for the sole purposes of testing, investigating, or correcting the security problem.

References: §106
 §107
 §108
 §8
 §109
 §6
 §110
 §301
 §8
 §110
 §1201
 §1201