Mechanical License
The right to record and reproduce a song — the composition, not the master
Related
A mechanical licence is the right to record a song and reproduce it in audio. It covers the composition, not a particular recording: covering a song and releasing it on a record or streaming service needs a mechanical licence; using the original recording also needs a master licence.
It differs from a sync licence: mechanical covers the sound carrier, sync covers music paired with picture. Some countries provide a compulsory mechanical licence at a statutory rate — if the conditions are met you may record without negotiating song by song; the terms and rates vary by country. The usual mistake is to think a cover needs no licence: it still needs the composition rights, usually through a statutory or collective route.
Read deeper → copyright
Sources
- 机械复制权的定义、强制许可与法定费率，参 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, "Copyright" 与通行音乐产业教材；本文为通识说明，不构成法律意见
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