This has to do with passwords and permissions set on the PDF document.

If the permission to Extract Text and Graphics Permission is disabled / turned off, then Adobe PDF reader and other PDF viewers will not let users copy text in a PDF.

When PDF has the Extract Text and Graphics On / Enabled , there is a “Copy” entry in the Text Selection right-click menu.

Copy entry in the text selection right-click menu
Copy entry in the text selection right-click menu

When PDF has the Extract Text and Graphics Off/ Disabled, there is no “Copy” entry in the Text Selection right-click menu.

No "Copy" entry in the text selection right-clcik menu
No “Copy” entry in the text selection right-clcik menu