by Maisie Allison
Ethan Hein shows how the folk music collector Alan Lomax, who first recorded and published the song "Rosie," became a legal co-author of Jay-Z's "Takeover." Hein's takeaway:
The copyright maze is no obstacle to Jay-Z — he has the money, lawyers and connections to clear whatever he wants. But what about up-and-coming or unheard-of artists? What if they want to use samples? …[G]rateful as I am to Alan Lomax for recording and disseminating so much great folk music, I remain baffled as to why he was allowed to copyright it. Our creative heritage deserves better stewardship than our current laws provide.
(Image by Ethan Hein. Hat tip: Jesse Walker.)
The Dish 