How Copyright Works (Part 2): The "Idea-Expression Dichotomy" || What Is Law Even

Part 2 of a five-part series explaining copyright law in super-simple terms! In this part, we'll explain when you become a copyright owner, and what the super-technical "idea-expression dichotomy" really means.
Check out the rest of the videos in this series here:
#1 - What Copyright Is: • How Copyright Works (P...
#2 - When Copyright Arises: [you are here!]
#3 - Copyright Protection: • How Copyright Works (P...
#4 - Copyright Infringement: • How Copyright Works (P...
#5 - Copyright Licenses: • How Copyright Works (P...
Do also check out the series of videos on my main channel discussing the aspects of copyright law that music cover artists need to know:
• What copyright is (wit...
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To check out all my videos, comics, and blog posts explaining law in simple terms, check out my website at whatislaweven.com ^^

[@filmtherapybw]

I have a question. I read a manga story, and I loved it. But I took the concept/idea and made my own manga with it, using my original characters, locations, etc. Will I get in trouble for copyright?

[@15minutegaming32]

How far does something need to go for it to be a "creative thing"?
For example, melodies, chord progressions, etc. are created+expressed, but can be very vague, especially with small phrases that could possibly have come about independently.

[@WhatIsLawEven]

You’ve hit the nail on one of the more confusing parts of copyright law right there! Short answer is, “not very far”, but it’s very difficult to lay down an exact standard.
The question of “how creative must you be” is essentially the idea of “originality”, which I didn’t expand much on in the video. In my experience, quite a lot of music copyright cases in the US are fought on this concept of “originality”. Katy Perry’s 8-note melodic ostinato in “Dark Horse” wasn’t original enough to be protected (Gray v Perry), while Sean Hall’s “playas gonna play, haters gonna hate” line of lyrics was original enough to get Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” (Hall v Swift). It’s really a case-by-case matter, and there isn’t any nice answer that can be given. Such is law, really :,)

[@BumberenzoManilupinoCity]

I have a copyright question too. I have a fire engine and other vehicle characters, that can turn into small tool boxes on wheels in order to go to small areas.
However I assume that there are many other people who came up with the same ideas of vehicles shrinking and going into smaller areas.
However my idea is very different. The way I express my idea is that the vehicle will turn into a toolbox on wheels so it can go somewhere else that where humans can.
If this is what I came up and so did others, is that an idea or an expression?