Hacker Cinema
Copyright Criminals
2009 · Film · documentary · 65 min
Directed by Kembrew McLeod, Benjamin Franzen
Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money. This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions. When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.” The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more.
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1 comment on Hacker News
Incredible to think that rap music would never have existed or become a popular genre if this law existed in the 80's and was weaponized against artists.
Ultimately this will strengthen a labels position as signed artists will be "allowed" to be influenced by songs the record label already owns.
Anyone else will be stuck in court.
There's a fantastic documentary on this called Copyright Criminals that breaks down this area and just how intertwined the entire music industry is as artists are naturally inspired by each other. The conclusion from this film was that innovation and creation will then come from places where these laws do not exist.