<P> In copyright law, a derivative work is an expressive creation that includes major copyright - protected elements of an original, previously created first work (the underlying work). The derivative work becomes a second, separate work independent in form from the first . The transformation, modification or adaptation of the work must be substantial and bear its author's personality sufficiently to be original and thus protected by copyright . Translations, cinematic adaptations and musical arrangements are common types of derivative works . </P> <P> Most countries' legal systems seek to protect both original and derivative works . They grant authors the right to impede or otherwise control their integrity and the author's commercial interests . Derivative works and their authors benefit in turn from the full protection of copyright without prejudicing the rights of the original work's author . </P> <P> The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, an international copyright treaty, stipulates that derivative works shall be protected although it does not use the term, namely that "Translations, adaptations, arrangements of music and other alterations of a literary or artistic work shall be protected as original works without prejudice to the copyright in the original work". </P>

A new original product that is based upon content from one or more previously existing works