nontransformative

Nontransformative refers to a concept in copyright law, particularly in the context of fair use and fair dealing, which describes uses of copyrighted material that do not transform the original work into something new or different. These uses are typically considered to be low-risk for infringement because they do not alter the original content in a significant way. Examples of nontransformative uses include:

1. Quoting short passages from a work for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, or research.

2. Paraphrasing a work without changing its essential character.

3. Using a work in a context where the original work is central to the new work, such as in a review or commentary.

4. Incorporating a work into a larger work without changing its essential character, such as using a short clip in a video.

Nontransformative uses are generally protected under fair use and fair dealing exceptions, which allow for the use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright owner, provided that certain conditions are met. These conditions typically include that the use is for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research, and that the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work is appropriate.