

Copyright Criminals
This is a Sampling Sport
Genres
Overview
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.
Details
Budget
$0
Revenue
$0
Runtime
65 min
Release Date
2009-05-21
Status
Released
Original Language
English
Vote Count
9
Vote Average
6.8
Aesop Rock
Himself
George Clinton
Himself
Chuck D
Himself
El-P
Himself
Sage Francis
Himself
Pam the Funsktress
Herself
Bobbito Garcia
Himself
Miho Hatori
Herself
Shock G
Himself
Mix Master Mike
Himself
Prefuse 73
Himself
DJ Q-Bert
Himself
Pete Rock
Himself
Hank Shocklee
Himself
DJ Spooky
Himself
Clyde Stubblefield
Himself
Saul Williams
Himself
0.0
Virgil Abloh: How To Be Both
Film exploring the life of legendary designer Virgil Abloh. It tracks his spectacular ascent from Kanye West’s right-hand man to his role as artistic director of menswear at Louis Vuitton.
2023-02-11 | en
7.1
The Story of the Weeping Camel
When a Mongolian nomadic family's newest camel colt is rejected by its mother, a musician is needed for a ritual to change her mind.
2003-06-29 | mn
6.0
The Boys & Girl from County Clare
In Ireland in the mid 1960s, two feuding brothers and their respective Ceilidh bands compete at a music festival.
2003-09-12 | en
6.7
Still Crazy
In the seventies Strange Fruit were it. They lived the rock lifestyle to the max, groupies, drugs, internal tension and an ex front man dead from an overdose. Even their demise was glamorous; when lightning struck the stage during an outdoor festival. 20 years on and these former rock gods they have now sunk deep into obscurity when the idea of a reunion tour is lodged in the head of Tony, former keyboard player of the Fruits. Tony sets out to find his former bandmates with the help of former manager Karen to see if they can recapture the magic and give themselves a second chance.
1998-10-30 | en
0.0
Galneryus - The Sense Of Our Lives
2016-09-09 | en
9.5
Black Veil Brides: Alive and Burning
Alive and Burning drops a pin in the band's career as their first-ever recorded live performance. Filmed in their home town of Los Angeles during the successful Black Mass Tour in support of their self-titled fourth album at the world famous Wiltern Theatre. The sold out crowd witnessed a career-spanning set list featuring classics such as Knives and Pens and Fallen Angels as well as current favorite Faithless and the grand finale In The End!
2015-07-10 | en
6.7
Full Metal Village
The film describes the microcosmos of the small village Wacken and shows the clash of the cultures, before and during the biggest heavy metal festival in Europe.
2007-04-19 | de
6.4
Wacken
Wacken Open Air is the biggest 3-day-rock- and metal-festival in the world. It's three days of raw energy, non-stop Heavy Metal music at full blast and 80.000 fans on a party frenzy. A true legend, taking place annually since 1990 in the sleepy German country town of Wacken, it attracts fans from all over the world.
2014-07-24 | de
9.3
Dardara
After 25 years of non-stop creation and at the peak of their career, the rock band Berri Txarrak decided to hang up their instruments. But before they did that, and as a farewell, they did one last tour around the world to thank all those fans who had bopped to their music all those years. A film about the power of music and passion — the “minimum requirement,” as one of their lyrics says.
2021-03-18 | eu
6.7
True Stories
A small but growing Texas town, filled with strange and musical characters, celebrates its sesquicentennial and converge on a local parade and talent show.
1986-10-10 | en
5.2
4
A documentary on one of the world’s most exciting string quartets – the Quatuor Ébène – draws viewers into the musicians’ struggle with interpretational details, with colleague-friends – and with themselves.
2015-11-01 | fr
10.0
Live on Earth
Live show of the Punk Rock band Uncommonmenfrommars that took place in 2004 at Ris Orangis (France). Recorded by David Basso. Mixed by Ryan Greene.
2004-09-14 | en
6.5
Paul McCartney: Back in the U.S.
In 2002, a 60-year old McCartney refocused the attention on his musicianship, staging a massive live concert in Cleveland, Ohio. The superstar, who went on to form the popular rock group Wings and had several hit records as a solo artist, performs a track list that covers all three phases of his long and prolific career, including the hits "Eleanor Rigby," "Live And Let Die," "Blackbird," "The Long And Winding Road," and "Mother Nature's Son." In addition to the 30 tunes that McCartney enthusiastically performs, seemingly immune to the ravages of time and aging, BACK IN THE U.S.A LIVE also includes candid behind-the-scenes footage of the rocker backstage and on the road.
2002-11-26 | en
7.0
Assembly Required: Teyana Taylor
See how Teyana Taylor dreamed up her most ambitious show to date: House of Petunia. Take an unfiltered look into the creative process for Teyana's iconic performance at Red Bull Music Festival New York.
2020-04-03 | en
9.0
The Road Forward
The Road Forward is an electrifying musical documentary that connects a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history—the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s—with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism today. Interviews and musical sequences describe how a tiny movement, the Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood, grew to become a successful voice for change across the country. Visually stunning, The Road Forward seamlessly connects past and present through superbly produced story-songs with soaring vocals, blues, rock, and traditional beats.
2017-04-30 | en
10.0
Unarmed Verses
Toronto filmmaker Charles Officer profiles the young people of Villaways Park, a housing project on brink of historic change.
2017-05-01 | en
5.3
Don't - Der Österreichfilm
Found footage sequences from various obscure campy Austrian films assembled together with a very dark disturbing soundtrack.
1996-01-01 | de
6.0
Set the Piano Stool on Fire
An intimate account of the relationship between young composer and pianist Kit Armstrong and the world renowned Alfred Brendel, Set the Piano Stool on Fire captures both the creative process and champions the value of teaching and collaboration. Featuring the only filmed footage of Brendel during his farewell tour, this is highly revealing and essential viewing for anyone interested in classical music.
2011-06-04 | en
6.7
Beats
An agoraphobic hip-hop prodigy and a disgraced former music manager cross paths in Chicago’s South Side and help each other face demons of their pasts.
2019-06-19 | en
7.5
Woodstock
An intimate look at the Woodstock Music & Art Festival held in Bethel, NY in 1969, from preparation through cleanup, with historic access to insiders, blistering concert footage, and portraits of the concertgoers; negative and positive aspects are shown, from drug use by performers to naked fans sliding in the mud, from the collapse of the fences by the unexpected hordes to the surreal arrival of National Guard helicopters with food and medical assistance for the impromptu city of 500,000.
1970-03-26 | en