COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT OR FAIR USE?

Contemporary music performer Girl Talk (Gregg Gillis) has gained popularity in recent years for his unique form of musical collages, known as “mash-ups,” which use a variety of rapid-fire samples to create innovative song structure. According to the New York Times, Gillis did not clear any of the 300-plus samples on his new album "Feed the Animals," but has instead claimed that his music is protected by fair use under copyright law.

Congressman, Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Pa., has publicly stated that Gillis is indeed covered by fair use. However, many lawyers and legal theorists argue that Gillis isn't commenting on another artist's work so much as repurposing it into his own. Gillis told the Times, "I get swept up in thinking of it as another album, but I'm certainly conscious of the issues it raises."