[dragonwriter]

> Copyright infringement is when you take copyrighted work and distribute it directly, or so close to directly that it can't be said to be "transformative".

“Transformative” is one consideration in one of four factors for fair use, so that's not right on the exception, and infringement happens when any exclusive right (literal copying, creating a derivative work, public performance, etc) is done with neither permission nor an exception such as Fair Use, not just at distribution.