Kraftwerk Loses Long-Running Copyright Case Over Sample Use
The European Court of Justice has ruled against Kraftwerk in a copyright dispute that has spanned over two decades. The case involved an unauthorized two-second sample from Kraftwerk's 1977 song 'Metall auf Metall' used in a 1997 track by producer Moses Pelham. The court determined that the sample's use fell under the 'pastiche' provision, which allows for creative works to use existing material if it is noticeably different and engages in artistic dialogue with the original. This decision clarifies the legal boundaries of sampling in the European Union. 
