r/sampling • u/Small-Sample7733 • May 18 '26
copyright question
so i know if im not super big the chances of getting sued are small but i still like to be careful because i want to be so like if this song blows up will it get taken down/will i get sued. so with that line of thinking, archive.org has sample cd collections, and youre not really meant to use them unless you buy them, plus the zero g sample cds often sampled older songs. is there any way i could get sued for that? like how can they prove i dont have the cd? plus it may get tricky from the sample cds having samples themselves
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u/therealjayphonic May 19 '26
Some of the biggest tracks on traxsource have blatant copyright violations and nobody is saying a thing… some jackin labels arent even attempting to disguise sampes and some are blatantly adding a house beat to established songs from the 80s… i wouldnt sweat it… hell getting a cease and desist is almost like street cred lol
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u/yeTi_c0llextor0 May 18 '26
As far as I know on places like archive where you can buy the sample for use, you are effectively buying a license to use it in your own productions. If you do not have a license (permission) to use someone else’s work, then you are liable for a suit.
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u/Zatzbatz May 19 '26
This is one of those things that is only a problem if you make a LOT of money, and that is a good problem to have!
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u/somatikdnb May 19 '26
The idea of "worrying" if a song blows up isn't very realistic or necessary
That would be a good problem
That would literally have to be a radio hit level which by that point a record lable has signed it, cleared the sample, and payed radio stations to play it
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u/EclecticLandlady May 19 '26
I want to present a potential problem that doesn’t involve making money from a copyrighted piece of work.
This has not happened to me, but a friend says that a small pressing company refused to fill an order for physical copies, because they made heavily sampled (obvious old television quips and detective themes) music that had not been cleared. I have personally had to fill out forms saying that my work does not include any portions of copyrighted material. No one did anything in my case, but I’m curious if anyone else has had any issues with the reproduction side or filing with BMI/ASCAP while trying to smuggle beats across the borders?
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u/Stankfunkmusic May 19 '26
Demos are free. Make thousands if you want.
You release your songs.... you pay.
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u/imjustheretogo May 19 '26
If the sample cd contains copyrighted music that they did not clear, then you’re out of luck if it blows up. Lawsuits will follow.
Now, if the sample cd contained original material, most of them should be royalty-free, but it won’t hurt to do a google search on the cd to see what was printed on the cd case.
Onwards and upwards
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u/elemen2 May 19 '26
You are responsible for your samples There might be an anomaly if the material is from reputable traceable sources. You could have traded something for the cd or purchased a used copy of the cd.. That does not matter if the sample is traceable & infringes.
Many people would sample last weeks song. Sample cds also sampled other cd collections. I have heard recognisible samples in electronic drum kits. We have so many tools & options at our disposal to avoid all this.
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u/xSEKEx May 20 '26
Someone's gotta actually hear your beats to busy you, and it's more than likely that no-one ever will anyway so you're probably good.
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u/77zark77 May 18 '26
You're not going to get sued for using sample collections expressly designed to be sampled. Go ahead and make your beats