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Court Rules Against Unlicensed Sampling

Posted by timothy on from the golden-ears dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Looks like there is no room at all for *any* sampling of "commercially protected" music. According to the open and future-looking judges, 'Get a license or do not sample. We do not see this as stifling creativity in any significant way.'" As the article puts it, this includes "minor, unrecognisable snippets of music." The decision was in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

6 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Cage by jefu · · Score: 4, Funny

    So now John Cage's estate will be able to sue anyone who has any amount of silence in their music, since it could be argued that they'd sampled his piece 4' 33". OK, its a stretch, but with decisions like this, who knows?

    1. Re:Cage by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Well, Cage is, y'know, DEcomposing.

      But his (blood-sucking bastard) estate did inherit the rights.

  2. Whole lotta payouts by rhakka · · Score: 2, Funny

    so if you sample a "C" note, and only a "C" note on a particular instrument, does that mean everyone who ever recorded a song with that note and that instrument gets to sue you since the actual original work is, by definition, unrecognizable?

  3. Just asking to be made fun of... by BrynM · · Score: 3, Funny
    Now that artists can't sample even single notes, I have a suggestion for fellow musicians: When you sample, please be sure to make fun of the original work and this ruling in your song. Then you may be able to claim protection as a parody and you could bring some of this silliness to public attention.

    Imagine the young artists and DJs that we will never hear because they can't afford to clear the rights to release their first album. The idea that this high cost of entry into what are already accepted music genres won't stifle innovation is stupid. The field just got closed to those with money and attorneys.

    --
    US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
  4. Top 10 things we will soon be sued for... by redog · · Score: 2, Funny

    10. Speaking out of monotone
    9. Playing any musical instrument which emmits notes(recognizeable or not.)
    8. Singing along with the radio.
    7. Playing our mp3's backward to get the message.
    6. Listening to seashells, actually I think the shell gets sued for this, but we maybe called as a witness.
    5. Makeing raindrop noises
    4. Humming the tune of a popular commercial
    3. Chewing with our mouth open
    2. Singing the National Anthem
    1. Singing in the shower

  5. Re:I might be in the minority here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Vanilla Ice explained the diffence in an interview.
    Under Pressure = DUM-DA-DA-DA-DUM-DA-DUM
    Ice, Ice Baby = DA-DUM-DA-DA-DA-DUM-DA-DUM
    I'm sure I didn't explain it as well as Mr. Ice did. It was one of the funniest things I have ever heard.