Copyright Criminals (2009): Besetzung, Handlung & Streaming

Released in 2009, Copyright Criminals is a musik and dokumentarfilm film directed by Benjamin Franzen, running about 65 minutes. “This is a Sampling Sport” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money. This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of New York to its current status as a multibillion-dollar industry. For more than thirty years, innovative hip-hop performers and producers have been re-using portions of previously recorded music in new, otherwise original compositions. When lawyers and record companies got involved, what was once referred to as a “borrowed melody” became a “copyright infringement.” The film showcases many of hip-hop music’s founding figures like Public Enemy, De La Soul, and Digital Underground—while also featuring emerging hip-hop artists from record labels Definitive Jux, Rhymesayers, Ninja Tune, and more.

Who’s in it. Copyright Criminals stars Aesop Rock as Himself, George Clinton as Himself, Chuck D as Himself and El-P as Himself, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.6/10, Copyright Criminals has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Copyright Criminals page.

If you liked it. Fans of Copyright Criminals tend to enjoy Whiplash, Coco - Lebendiger als das Leben!, Green Book - Eine besondere Freundschaft and Die Legende vom Ozeanpianisten.