Can you really copyright a recipe? Well the answer is yes and no. You cannot copyright the listing of ingredients; however the directions, the actual procedure for putting the recipe together can be copy-written.

According to Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jane L. Baker’s The Recipe Writers Handbook. “the rule of thumb is that three major changes are required to make a recipe ‘yours’.” They also state that “even though you may make these changes as a professional courtesy your should acknowledge the source or inspiration for the recipe.”

If you are interested in learning more about recipe copyrights check out:

Can a recipe be stolen?

Copyright recipes

Pick up a copy of Barbara Gibbs Ostmann and Jane L. Baker’s The Recipe Writers Handbook. See pages 175-177.