QBert cradles a record in his arm like a frisbee. Below: Funkmaster George Clinton is seen with his trademark rainbow-colored dreadlocks and gray beard, gazing over his glasses at the camera.Text reads: Can you own a sound? COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS examines the history and influence of musical sampling, provoking debates about copyright, compensation and creativity in the age of intellectual property.
Seven albums are scattered about, including titles from The Sugar Hill Gang, Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Lauryn Hill.
Lessig on Fair Use
Noted legal scholar Lawrence Lessig discusses the murky application of fair use law in the world of music, why the recording industry is self-destructing and the poetic logic behind dedicating a pro-sampling book to Jack Valenti.
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Professor Larry Lessig is seen from the waist up, gesturing as he delivers a lecture.
From Funky Drummer to Girl Talk: A Timeline
Trace the progression of inventions and recordings that changed the sound of global audio culture.
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Filmmakers Kembrew McLeod and Benjamin Franzen look into the camera with slight smiles on their faces.
The Making Of
How do you make a film called COPYRIGHT CRIMINALS without becoming one? Very carefully, say filmmakers Benjamin Franzen and Kembrew McLeod.
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