Copyrights and Plagiarism

Copyright and Recipes

Copyright does not protect basic recipes – including the list of ingredients and the functional steps for completion.  Copyright potential can protect the story written around the recipe, including all images used in the posting.

“A mere listing of ingredients is not protected under copyright law. However, where a recipe or formula is accompanied by substantial literary expression in the form of an explanation or directions, or when there is a collection of recipes as in a cookbook, there may be a basis for copyright protection.”  Copyright.gov; PDF

Attribution Guidelines

When in doubt, give attribution.

Adapted from: A recipe is modified slightly from the original

Inspired by: A recipe was modified quite a bit from the original

Resource Links

Lexology, Protecting Your Recipes, January 23, 2018

Plagiarism Today, Recipes, Copyright and Plagiarism, March 24, 2015

Sara F. Hawkins, Attorney at Law, Copyright and Recipes in Plain English, March 1, 2011