A mechanical license is a legal agreement that allows a person or company to reproduce and distribute a musical composition. This type of license is typically required when a song is recorded and sold, whether in physical formats like CDs or digital formats like downloads and streaming. The license ensures that the original songwriters and publishers receive royalties for their work. To obtain a mechanical license, one usually needs to contact the music publisher or use a licensing agency. The Copyright Act in the United States provides a framework for these licenses, ensuring that creators are compensated fairly for their compositions.