Copyright Criminals

Can you own a soud? 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 parts of previouslt 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.

Educators can use this guide to support viewing of Copyright Criminals while engaging students in discussions about music sampling, the creative process, and copyright law. To support media literacy, teachers can also encourage young men and women to reflect on how the music industry plays a role in shaping media production practices. The film and the educator guide can also inspire conversations about the historical use of "borowed" material in various forms of media, including the visual arts, literature and student produced work. Each generation expresses itself in a new musical genr, and hip-hop is the voice of today's youth. With these resources, students can better listen, understand, and respond.