Mechanical rights refer to the legal permissions that allow a person or entity to reproduce a musical composition in a physical format, such as CDs or vinyl records, or in a digital format, like downloads and streaming. These rights are typically granted by the copyright owner, often the songwriter or music publisher, and ensure that they receive compensation for the use of their work. When a song is recorded and distributed, the entity producing the recording must obtain mechanical rights to avoid copyright infringement. This process often involves paying a royalty fee, which is usually calculated per copy sold or distributed, ensuring that creators are fairly compensated for their contributions to the music industry.