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If I change 20% of the work will I be OK?

I read this fantastic short story the other day and thought changing it slightly may allow me to write a new best seller. Can I do this as I will be changing some of the story completely?
Asked in Newcastle - Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW, 13-11-2015
1 Lawyer Answered
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  1. Copyright
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.

Answer by Lance Scott of 1Place Patent Attorneys & Solicitors, Paddington 2021 NSW

  • No. This is another very popular myth and people use various percentages for example 10% or 15%.
  • Copyright is infringed when a person deals with a substantial part of a copyright protected work without authorisation from the copyright owner.
  • Dealing with a substantial part of a copyright protected work does not necessarily refer to using a large amount of the work. It is assessed qualitatively rather than quantitatively.

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