Which of the following must be true for a work to qualify for copyright protection?

For a work to qualify for copyright protection, it is essential that it demonstrates creative expression. Copyright law is designed to protect original works of authorship that are fixed in a tangible medium of expression. This means that the work must be an original creation that reflects the author's personal creativity or intellectual effort.

Creative expression encompasses a wide range of forms, including music, literature, art, and dance, and does not require the work to be popular or commercially successful. The uniqueness and originality of the expression are what enable a work to be eligible for copyright, rather than the number of authors involved or any specific publication dates. Thus, the presence of creative expression is a fundamental requirement for copyright eligibility.