Derivative Work

A derivative work is any piece of work that is based on or includes elements from an existing work, such as a translation, dramatization, fictionalization, art reproduction, abridged or condensed version, or any other form of transformation or adaptation. For instance, Kanye West’s “Stronger,” which incorporates elements from Daft Punk’s “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” is regarded as a derivative work because it uses elements from a pre-existing song. Under U.S. copyright law, the only person who can authorize the creation of a derivative work is the holder of the copyright for the original work.