It wasn't until the start of the 18th century that the concept of originality became an ideal in Western culture.

Is originality Dead?

If you think originality is dead, you're not the only one. Scientists have found that creativity test scores have been on the decline for decades. ... It's called The Torrance Test, and it's been used for decades not to “grade” creativity, but more to measure it.

How do you prove originality?

Originality. In order to qualify for copyright protection in the United States, a work must satisfy the originality requirement, which has two parts. The work must have “at least a modicum” of creativity, and it must be the independent creation of its author.