How is a work categorized as original under copyright law?

A work is categorized as original under copyright law when it is the result of independent thought and expression. This means that the creator must have generated the work through their own creativity, utilizing their unique perspective and skills. The work does not need to have any novel elements as long as it reflects the personal input of the author. Originality is a foundational principle in copyright law, ensuring that creators have rights over the fruits of their intellectual labor, regardless of whether their work is collaborative or a simple adaptation of existing ideas.

In this context, while collaborative efforts can indeed produce original works, the key aspect is the individual contributions that provide the work with its distinctiveness. Formal registration is not a requirement for copyright protection, as copyright exists upon the creation of the work, meaning that even unregistered works are still protected as long as they meet the originality requirement. Improvement upon an existing work does not automatically qualify a work as original, since derivative works may only be protected under specified circumstances. Therefore, independent thought and expression stand as the core conditions for defining originality in copyright law.