What is a derivative work?

A derivative work, in the context of copyright law in Nebraska, is a work that is based off of or derived from an existing copyrighted work. This can include alterations (such as translations, adaptations, or other changes), compilations (like creating a collection of works by different authors) or other form of ‘transformative’ works (like creating a song based on a poem). The creator of the derivative work will have copyright protection, but this will not cover the original work. The original author or copyright holder will still be the exclusive owner of the rights to the original work and will still have the ability to control its use. To legally use a derivative work, the creator will need to obtain permission from the copyright holder of the original work. Examples of derivative works could be a fan fiction, a movie that is based off of a book, or a musical based off of a poem.

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