Based on recent questions from our clients, many business owners are unclear that they can’t necessarily play commercial radio stations, broadcast their personal Ipod® playlist or show sports events from live TV at work.

Many people understand “copyright” to prohibit the copying of original works of art. Perhaps they know not to “lift” website copy or articles, or not to copy whole chapters of books. Some even realize that photographs and other artwork appearing on websites are not always free for the taking.

But many don’t realize that “copyright” is actually a bundle of rights that gives the owner (artist) the exclusive rights to:

1. Copy the work;

2. Distribute the work;

3. Display the work;

4. Modify or create derivative works of the work;

5. Perform the work; and

6. In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission.