Transformative Work and the HathiTrust Case Understanding Transformative Work and the HathiTrust Case What is a Transformative Work? A transformative work is a concept in copyright law, particularly in the context of fair use . It refers to a work that adds new expression, meaning, or purpose to an existing copyrighted material, rather than simply copying it. In simpler terms, a transformative work changes the original in a way that gives it a new function or value . Courts often consider whether the work serves a different purpose than the original. Examples of Transformative Works Parody: Using an original song or movie to create humorous or critical commentary. Critical Commentary or Review: Quoting a book, article, or artwork to provide critique or analysis. Searchable Databases: Digitizing books to allow full-text search, like the HathiTrust case . Educational Use: Summaries, annotations, or ada...