Just how different would a recipe have to be for it not to break any copyright laws?

Question

I wanted to put some recipes together for a book. Some recipes are original to me, others I originally got from a book and changed it around over the years. How different would a recipe have to be for it not to break any copyright laws?

Answer 1

You have a couple of choices on which way to go.
You could ask the original author for permission to copy.
You could give attribution to the original, but say adapted.
Or you could research a number of similar recipes.
Then document yours in some unique way.
e.g. Start with a different title or name for your version.
Change the order &/or measure of ingredients.
Add or remove a couple of unique ingredients.
Specify some techniques or steps which are different.
Suggest some different garnish, serving, or accompanimant.

Answer 2

recipes can't be patented at all - they are protected by copyright as the asker correctly said.

If you started from a copyrighted recipe, and modified it, then it is a "derivative work" under the law, and you must license it.

You are going to need a lawyer experienced in tracking down copyright holders (every similar book publisher has to do this) and deciding if the original was even copyrighted or not, or if it was, is it still.

this is not a job for the author, it is highly complex.

How much you changed it doesn't matter if it was and more importantly still is copyrighted.

Answer 3

That would depend on how common recipe was in the first place. For example it would be very difficult to patent a recipe for tomato sauce. If it is too common then the patent doesn't mean much.

Answer 4

As long as you make it yours, by adding or subtracting ingredients, or you use different seasonings, you do not have to worry about copyright laws.

Answer 5

even if you put less salt or extra salt(even change the salt amount)then it will be yours
the famous tide.washing powder there is tyde now and they broke no rules
kitkat into ketkat as well