“Commercial exploitation is not fair use”

The latest in Tracy Chapman’s copyright infringement lawsuit against Nicki Minaj over Minaj’s “Sorry.”

The Tracy Chapman’s complaint estimates that about half of “Sorry” lifts the lyrics and vocal melody of Chapman’s “Baby Can I Hold You.” Nicki Minaj’s defenses is that her sampling of Chapman’s song was fair use.

Kevin Casini doesn’t think so. He tweets,

Can we stop w/the

charade? It’s not. We know it’s not. You know it’s not. Stop trying to convince ppl that commercial exploitation is ‘fair use’. Counsel your clients.

More here.