Legal Definitions - performance right

Performance right is a term used to describe the exclusive right of a copyright holder to publicly recite, play, act, show, or otherwise present their protected work. This includes any form of public presentation, whether it be in person or through technological means such as broadcasting on television.

It is important to note that any public performance of a copyrighted work requires authorization from the copyright owner or their representative, unless a statutory ephemeral-recording exemption applies.

• A musician performing their own song at a concert
• A theater company performing a play for an audience
• A television network broadcasting a movie

These examples illustrate how the performance right applies to various forms of public presentation. In each case, the copyright holder has the exclusive right to allow or deny the public performance of their work. Without authorization, any public performance would be considered a violation of the performance right.