Legal Definitions - original work of authorship

An original work of authorship refers to a creative expression that is independently created by a human author and possesses at least a minimal degree of creativity. For a work to qualify for copyright protection, it must originate from the author, meaning it wasn't copied from another source, and it must be "fixed" in a tangible form. This "fixed" form allows the work to be perceived, reproduced, or communicated, either directly or with the aid of a device.

Copyright law protects the *expression* of an idea, not the idea itself, nor does it protect facts, procedures, systems, methods of operation, concepts, principles, or discoveries, regardless of how they are described or embodied.

Examples of an original work of authorship include:

• A Children's Picture Book: Sarah writes and illustrates a new children's picture book about a brave little squirrel who helps her friends in the forest. She develops unique characters, writes the story, and draws all the illustrations herself.

  This is an original work of authorship because Sarah independently created the story and illustrations, expressing her unique ideas in a tangible form (the book manuscript and drawings). It shows sufficient creativity and is fixed, making it eligible for copyright protection. While the *idea* of a brave squirrel isn't protected, Sarah's specific story, characters, and artwork are.

• A Mobile Application's Code and Interface: A software engineer, David, develops a new mobile application that helps users track their personal fitness goals. He writes all the unique lines of computer code that make the app function and designs its specific user interface, including the layout, icons, and color scheme.

  David's specific computer code and the unique visual design of the app's interface qualify as an original work of authorship. The code is considered a literary work, independently created and fixed in a digital medium. While the *idea* of a fitness tracking app or the *method* of tracking steps isn't copyrightable, David's particular expression of that idea through his specific code and interface design is.

• A Landscape Design for a Public Park: Maria, a landscape architect, designs a unique public park layout for a city, including specific arrangements of pathways, gardens, and water features. She creates detailed blueprints, architectural drawings, and 3D renderings of her design.

  Maria's detailed blueprints, drawings, and 3D renderings of the park's design are an original work of authorship. They represent her unique creative expression in the field of architecture, independently created and fixed in a tangible medium. The general *concept* of a public park is not copyrightable, but Maria's specific, original design for *this particular park* is.