A documentary on the History of Sampling
Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, tracing the rise of the Hip-Hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry.
For more than 30 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 as a "Borrowed Melody" became a "Copyright Infringment".
As artists find ever more inventive ways to insert old influences into new material, this documentary asks a critical question, on behalf of the an entire creative community: Can you own a sound?
What is Fair Use?
What is Creative Commons?
Special Features: Trailers, Extended interviews with Chuck D, De La Soul, Clyde Stubblefield.
Music player featuring 15+ songs by: EL-P, RJD2
The DVD was also reprised as part of the Copyright Criminals - The Funky Drummer Edition Box Set.