Title 17, CopyrightsRelease 119-102
§906 Limitation on Exclusive Rights: Reverse Engineering; First Sale
Title 17 › CHAPTER 9 — PROTECTION OF SEMICONDUCTOR CHIP PRODUCTS › § 906
Summary
Allows copying a chip design (mask work) only to teach, study, or test how it works. Someone who studies it may use what they learn to make and distribute a new, original design. It also lets the owner of a specific chip made by the design owner or an authorized person import, sell, or use that chip without permission, but not copy it.
Full Legal Text
Title 17, §906
Copyrights, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 905, it is not an infringement of the exclusive rights of the owner of a mask work for—
(1)a person to reproduce the mask work solely for the purpose of teaching, analyzing, or evaluating the concepts or techniques embodied in the mask work or the circuitry, logic flow, or organization of components used in the mask work; or
(2)a person who performs the analysis or evaluation described in paragraph (1) to incorporate the results of such conduct in an original mask work which is made to be distributed.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of section 905(2), the owner of a particular semiconductor chip product made by the owner of the mask work, or by any person authorized by the owner of the mask work, may import, distribute, or otherwise dispose of or use, but not reproduce, that particular semiconductor chip product without the authority of the owner of the mask work.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
17 U.S.C. § 906
Title 17, Copyrights
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102