Copyrights Glossary

A work based on one or more preexisting works. The owner of the copyright in the preexisting work usually has the right to prevent others from creating derivative works. An authorized derivative work is separately “copyrightable.” Examples of derivative works include reproductions of works of art, sculptures based on drawings, maps based on previously published sources, lithographs based on paintings, etc. In addition, editorial revisions, annotations or other modifications can be considered derivative works. This only applies if the changes as a whole are sufficient to represent an original work of authorship.