# Music sampling credit question
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [August 26, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846 "2003-08-26T21:27:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 11
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/1 "2003-08-26T21:27:53Z")
Remember back in the 80’s when those little electronic keyboards were all the rage? Most had some little song built in as a sample. If you were to use one of them as the basis of a song, would you have to pay royalties?
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/2 "2003-08-26T21:56:15Z")
Technically yes, but I would check who the manufacturer is, they might be out of business, unless its Casio.
Personally I think you are safe, because who the hell will recognize the melody?
I sample things, and if I get sued that’s fine, it means I’m making money and being noticed. 😃
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### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/3 "2003-08-26T22:15:12Z")
Once you’re sued, you won’t be making money.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/4 "2003-08-26T22:41:33Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \*
> \*\*Once you’re sued, you won’t be making money. \*\*
Depends.
Jay Z has been sued a bunch of times, and he’s doing pretty well last time I checked.
I would imagine they go after people with deep pockets.
If you have deep pockets, you’ve already won.
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### Author:  [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/5 "2003-08-26T23:21:58Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \*
> \*\*Remember back in the 80’s when those little electronic keyboards were all the rage? Most had some little song built in as a sample. If you were to use one of them as the basis of a song, would you have to pay royalties? \*\*
I don’t know, but I hear the “percussion loops” from the Casio SK-1 in songs quite a bit these days. Not that I can think of any off-hand.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/6 "2003-08-26T23:26:25Z")
You could alter a few notes and be in the clear. When you say ‘basis’, how much of a basis do you mean?
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### Author:  [@davidw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidw)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/7 "2003-08-26T23:35:13Z")
I vaguely remember the hip hop producer Swizz Beats was sued for using one of those pre-programmed Casio loops. I don’t know how the case ended up. I just took it as confirmation of Swizz’s staggering laziness and unoriginality.
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [August 26, 2003, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/8 "2003-08-26T23:41:14Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by World Eater \*
> \*\*You could alter a few notes and be in the clear. When you say ‘basis’, how much of a basis do you mean? \*\*
There was tiny Casio keyboard (maybe 20 keys) that had a 2-3 minute song. Let’s say I wanted to add other instruments and lyrics to that song.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/9 "2003-08-27T00:12:00Z")
What do you intend to do with it?
Release it commercially or listen to it while you go jogging?
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### Author:  [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/10 "2003-08-27T00:37:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by World Eater \*
> \*\*What do you intend to do with it?
>
> Release it commercially or listen to it while you go jogging? \*\*
For the sake of argument, I would want to release it commercially.
Also, let’s say I reproduce the song using different instruments as opposed to using the actual recording.
Any difference?
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [August 27, 2003, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/music-sampling-credit-question/197846/11 "2003-08-27T00:45:05Z")
Well for the sake of argument then, you would most likely have to pay royalties or risk being sued. The melody is what is familiar so I could play “light my fire” on a harmonica, and I would be at risk I suppose.
I don’t really know the legal ramifications to be honest, but I do know making a sample the basis of a song is not the brightest idea.