Copyright criminals [videorecording] / a picture by Benjamin Franzen ; director, producer, editor, and cinematographer, Benjamin Franzen ; writer and music consultant, Kembrew McLeod ; a production of Copyright Criminals LLC in association with Changing Images, LLC and ITVS.

Publisher: [New York, NY] : Indiepix Films, c2010.

Description: 1 videodisc (53 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in.

Subject: Copyright Music United States.
Musicians Legal status, laws, etc. United States.
Rap (Music).
Music trade United States.
Sampling (Sound) Legal status, laws, etc. United States.
Sampling (Sound) Economic aspects.
Music trade Economic aspects United States.
Documentary films.
Nonfiction films.
Feature films.
Feature films United States. local

Other titles: Independent lens (Television program).

Credits: Additional cinematography, Ross Gabriel Šebek ; additional editing, Sarah Franzen and Video Rahim.

Performers: Featuring interviews with: Jeff Chang, Chuck D., George Clinton, De La Soul, Steve Albini, Hank Shocklee, Eclectic Method, Eyedea & Abilities, Mr. Len, Harry Allen, Sage Francis, DJ Spooky, DJ Obert, Miho Hatori, El-P, Saul Williams, Clyde Stubblefield.

Notes: Some credits from container.
Originally produced as a motion picture in 2009; television broadcast premiere Jan. 19, 2010, on the PBS series Independent Lens.
Theatrical presentation by Indiepix Films and Cactus Three.
Special features: Theatrical trailer; extended interviews with Clyde Stubblefield, Chuck D, De La Soul (ca. 88 min.); soundtrack for the film, featuring 17 songs; Fair Use explained : four shorts by the Center for Social Media: Remix culture is your friend (ca. 8 min.) -- Fair Use for media literacy education (ca. 6 min.) -- Remix culture (ca. 4 min.) -- Fair Use and free speech in documentary film (ca. 7 min.).

Summary: As hip-hop rose from the streets of New York to become a multibillion-dollar industry, artists such as Public Enemy and De La Soul began reusing portions of previously recorded music for their songs. But when record company lawyers got involved, everything changed. Years before people started downloading and remixing music, hip-hop sampling sparked a debate about copyright, creativity, and technological change that still rages today.