Is Google's Image Search a Copyright Infringer? Unpacking the Derivative Work Dilemma Ever wondered if Google's image search, the tool many of us use daily, is actually breaking copyright law? This episode dives into that intriguing question, specifically focusing on whether framing or inline linking images from other websites creates an infringing "derivative work." What exactly makes something a derivative work in the eyes of the law—is it truly "recast, transformed, or adapted"? We'll pull back the curtain on how Google's image search technically operates, revealing that images are fetched directly by your browser from their original sources, not stored or changed by Google. How does a landmark case like Perfect 10 v. Amazon, with its crucial "server test," shape our understanding of direct infringement in this digital landscape? Join us as we explore why, despite the visual impact, Google's image framing likely doesn't cross the line into creating a derivative work. Does this legal interpretation truly balance innovation with creator rights?