• Latest
    • AI
    • Careers
    • Copyright
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Events Videos
    • Law firm news
    • Trade secrets
  • In-house
  • Patents
  • Trademarks
  • Jurisdictions
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia
    • Australasia
    • Africa
    • Unified Patent Court
  • Rankings
    • About Rankings
    • Practice Area Rankings
    • Global In-House Elite 2026
    • Diversity & Inclusion Top 100 2025
    • Leaders 2025
    • Directory
  • WIPR Insights
    • Magazines
    • IP services: Product walk-throughs
    • Whitepapers
    • Webinars
  • Events
    • Events schedule
  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletter
  • Login


Request Trial
  • Home
  • Copyright
  • Sound bite: Is sampling fair use?
shutterstock_706831726_tinseltown
17 September 2020CopyrightRory O'Neill

Sound bite: Is sampling fair use?

Where’s the line between creative experimentation and theft? That’s the question at the heart of a lawsuit between Tracy Chapman and Nicki Minaj over whether the act of sampling a song in the studio constitutes copyright infringement.

Already registered?

Login to your account


If you don't have a login or your access has expired, you will need to purchase a subscription to gain access to this article, including all our online content.

For more information on individual annual subscriptions for full paid access and corporate subscription options please contact us.

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk


More on this story

Copyright
Childish Gambino faces ‘This is America’ copyright suit
7 May 2021   A Florida-based rapper is suing actor, musician, and writer Donald Glover for copyright infringement, citing elements of 2018 single “This is America”, released under the Childish Gambino moniker.
Copyright
SCOTUS denies ‘Stairway to Heaven’ appeal
6 October 2020   Led Zeppelin has overcome the final hurdle in its “Stairway to Heaven” dispute with the estate of Randy Wolfe, the late singer of the band Spirit.
Copyright
Unauthorised sampling can infringe producer’s rights: CJEU
29 July 2019   The unauthorised sampling of sounds fixed in a phonogram can infringe a producer’s rights, subject to certain conditions, according to Europe’s highest court.


Editor's picks

The battle for Frida: Art, activism, and assets clash in trademark case
Trademarks
The battle for Frida: Art, activism, and assets clash in trademark case
24 April 2026

Editor's picks

Trademarks
The battle for Frida: Art, activism, and assets clash in trademark case
24 April 2026
Patents
A quantum leap? UK’s ‘commercialisation skills centre’ plays key role in tech ambition
20 April 2026
Patents
IP theft a major concern for automotive companies, US report shows
14 April 2026
Future of IP
IP finance gap risks startup exodus, EUIPO warns
13 April 2026
Trademarks
Yuga Labs wraps up ‘Bored Ape’ NFT row
13 April 2026
Trademarks
Judge questions X’s use of ‘Twitter’ in TM fight with Operation Bluebird
10 April 2026

More articles

The battle for Frida: Art, activism, and assets clash in trademark case
Ex-Banner Witcoff attorneys launch bespoke AI and tech IP firm
Lessons from Nutramax on defining trademark ‘use’
Winston & Strawn adds Texas tech pro to litigation department
Litigator from Brown Rudnick moves firms to chair practice
INTA 2026: In-house tips on what to do in London
US court merges overlapping Shein v Temu lawsuits
Greenspoon Marder expands LA office with 10 new hires

  • Home
  • News
  • Directory
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Terms of Subscription

WIPR
Newton Media Ltd
Kingfisher House
21-23 Elmfield Road
BR1 1LT
United Kingdom

  • Twitter
  • Linkedin