# How does one get clearance for a sample?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-clearance-for-a-sample/100922
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 30, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-clearance-for-a-sample/100922 "2002-03-30T13:56:15Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![rubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@rubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rubes)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2002, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-clearance-for-a-sample/100922/1 "2002-03-30T13:56:15Z")

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When a musician decides to sample something from TV or a movie, how does that sample get cleared for use?

There is a common misperception that if a clip is under a certain number of seconds that it doesn’t need clearance, but that is untrue.

So, who does one contact and what sort of clearance form is needed?

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### Author: ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [March 30, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-one-get-clearance-for-a-sample/100922/2 "2002-03-30T14:46:31Z")

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As I understand it, you go through the publisher or through ASCAP or BMI, whichever the publisher is affiliated with.

ASCAP has a great database at [http://www.ascap.com/ace/ace.html](http://www.ascap.com/ace/ace.html). Search for the song and down at the bottom of the page, you’ll see info on whom to contact at ASCAP for clearance.

Hope this helps.