Legal Definitions - originality

Definition: Originality is the quality of being created independently with a minimum degree of creativity. It is a requirement for copyright protection, but it does not have to be novel or unique.

Example: A musician writes a song that is inspired by a popular genre, but they add their own unique lyrics and melody. This song is considered original because it is the product of the musician's independent creation and has a minimum degree of creativity.

Explanation: The example illustrates originality because the musician created something new and unique, even though it was inspired by an existing genre. The song is not a copy of any existing work, and it has a minimum degree of creativity that makes it eligible for copyright protection.