section_path: Copyright/United States/Derivatives
section_name: Derivatives
paragraph_text: Derivatives
  
  An extensive definition of the term derivative work is given by the United States Copyright Act in 17 U.S.C. § 101:
  
  A "derivative work" is a work based upon one or more preexisting works, such as a translation... art reproduction, abridgment, condensation, or any other form in which a work may be recast, transformed, or adapted. A work consisting of editorial revisions, annotations, elaborations, or other modifications which, as a whole, represent an original work of authorship, is a "derivative work".
  
  17 U.S.C. § 103(b) provides:
  
  The copyright in a compilation or derivative work extends only to the material contributed by the author of such work, as distinguished from the preexisting material employed in the work, and does not imply any exclusive right in the preexisting material. The copyright in such work is independent of, and does not affect or enlarge the scope, duration, ownership, or subsistence of, any copyright protection in the preexisting material.