Jay-Z & Kanye West Respond To Syl Johnson's Lawsuit

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: It is important that you understand the difference between a "musical work" and a "sound recording". A musical work and a sound recording of a musical work have separate copyright protection. The children's song, "Three Blind Mice" is absolutely in the public domain worldwide. You may publish it, record it, sing it, use it in your movie, or do anything else with "Three Blind Mice" that you can ever imagine. However, no sound recordings of "Three Blind Mice" are in the public domain. If you want to use any sound recording - even a sound recording of a public domain song - you must either license a recording or create your own recording. Several different copyright attorneys have given us quite complicated explanations regarding copyright protection for sound recordings, but all agree that all essentially ALL sound recordings are under copyright protection in the USA until the year 2067. There are, of course, exceptions to everything, and we suspect that there really are some PD sound recordings. However, the federal and state laws are so tangled and complicated, it is virtually impossible to do confident sound recording PD research. There are several U.S. web sites claiming that sound recordings made in the United States prior to February 15, 1972, are in the public domain, and there are links to U.S. Copyright Office publications stating: "Sound recordings fixed before February 15, 1972, are not eligible for Federal copyright protection." It is quite true that pre-1972 sound recordings had no Federal copyright protection, but they are still well protected under state law. We have had this reviewed independently by several copyright attorneys across the U.S. Each has confidently and independently told us that between federal and state copyright protection, virtually every sound recording in the USA is protected until the year 2067.

Jaymalls: Lmao.... That's what his old ass get... I heard Ye offered this money hungry peace of shit musician a few stacks for his 2 grunts but he wanted something in the 6-digit range. That's 1 of the reasons y the joy didn't make MBDTF.... The crazy part is Ye offered this fool the money out the goodness of his heart... He already new he could use it because Cypress Hill won there case against this idiot! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ YOUNGUN DON'T KNOW SH!T FLAPPING HIS GUMS

If Syl Johnson filed a PA copyright form, he could argue a strong case. I'm sure Lil John would sue you for using his "YEA" on a track. My bet is that they are saying that the part used is a sound bit.

This is why there are no more dope Hip Hop songs ... DJs who experimented with manipulating vinyl on two turntables gave birth to Hip Hop music. In the 1970s, when hip hop was confined to local dance parties, it was not necessary to obtain copyright clearance in order to sample recorded music at these parties. The genre went mainstream, and it became necessary to pay to obtain legal clearance for samples. This is why the 1990's Hip Hop is the "Golden Era" ... this music was made before all these lawsuits.

This is why when I use samples I just give the song out for free because I don't have time for bullshit like this. "Fuck Beyonce" Carolina DT on Youtube!

I'm not big on most copyright laws or the RIAA because they're a corporate mafia out to police the internet, sue people, and protect their racket by abusing the laws and lobbying politicians to do it, but there's a simple principle at work and Jay and Kanye are in the wrong on this one. If you want to sample someone's work for your own song to sell your album, then you're obligated to respect that and pay them for it. If they ask for more than you expect, it's beyond arrogant to decide "that's too much so I'm going to do it anyway and use my lawyers to use a loophole". Even if the guy asked for way too much to sample it, then fuck it and move on, otherwise you're ripping off their work to make money off it for yourself for free. That's a dick move. Jay-Z and Kanye West are some of the richest entertainers in the world, and if the song they're sampling is good enough for them, they should just pay it. I bet my life if someone used a song Kanye produced to make money off it for themselves but decided he wanted too much, he would lawyer up and sue them into oblivion. There's no reason Jay or Kanye can't write a check if they wanted the song that much, they're not hurting, and to have your lawyer use a loophole to rip someone off their due so you can make money off their music is bullshit period.

1972 dose that mean i can still sample before that year and not get sued?? answer plz anyone

monica sampled it, did she pay?

Lmao.... That's what his old ass get... I heard Ye offered this money hungry peace of shit musician a few stacks for his 2 grunts but he wanted something in the 6-digit range. That's 1 of the reasons y the joy didn't make MBDTF.... The crazy part is Ye offered this fool the money out the goodness of his heart... He already new he could use it because Cypress Hill won there case against this idiot!

Jayz still raping people for beats, and lyrics. If Jay paid everyone who ghostwrites for him he'd be broke!! You'd thnk KANYE would not be such a bitch about this, since he cant make a beat w/o a sample!