http://www.corante.com/importance/archives/2005/06/03/6th_cir_reaffirms_no_de_minimis_defense_in_copying_sound_recordings.php The Free Expression Policy Project reports that a Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals panel has reaffirmed their decision in Bridgeport Music v. Dimension Films that there is essentially no de minimus exception to copyright infringement for sound recordings; even copying... en-us http://www.corante.com/importance/archives/2005/06/13/beastie_boys_sampling_infringement_case_ends.php In 1992 the Beastie Boys used a three-note sample of James Newton's jazz fluting in one of their songs. They licensed the sound recording, but did not license the underlying composition. In November 2003, the Ninth Circuit ruled that the... http://www.p2p-weblog.com/archives/i_can_own_that_song_in_three_notes.html U.S. Court gives away musical notes: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reaffimed its decision that re-using 3 notes constitutes copyright infringement (Corante - Patry). The ruling involved three notes that were changed in pitch and...