In this work, Vaidhyanathan is arguing for “thin” copyright protection (as opposed to “thick”) or copyright doctrine that is just strong enough to encourage the creative industries in art and business but also “porous” enough to allow for free flows of information and rich democratic speech. I think that this is the best way to view copyright law.

When it comes to sampling, like any other music sampling, it can be done incredibly well or used blatantly poorly. MC Hammer’s “U Cant’s Touch This” borrowed lengthy hooks and choruses from Rick James “Superfreak”, downgrading his song from a sample to a copy of the original. Sample- based music is not to be confused with piggy- backing on old music to create mega- hit, but the art of utilizing technology to remix and share music in new and innovative ways. Recording artists such as De La Soul, Public Enemy, and Beastie Boys used multiple brief samples that were often left completely unrecognizable to construct songs.