DISTINGUISHABLE VARIATION

distinguishable   variation.Copyright.   A   detectable   difference   between   two   works.   •

Distinguishable variation is the standard for determining whether a work that is based on a work in

the  public  domain  can  itself  be  copyrighted.  Examples  include  translations  of  books  and

mezzotints  of  paintings.  Some  nontrivial  originality  is  also  required:  exact  copies  are  not

protectable. [Blacks Law 8th]