Celebrate 25 Years of Creative Commons! As we mark a quarter-century of empowering creators and keeping knowledge free, your support helps us build the next 25 years of the global commons. Help us kick off our end-of-year giving campaign early! Donate today!

Kraftwerk by greenplastic875 | CC BY
German electronic-music pioneers Kraftwerk were told yesterday by a judge in Germany that a two-second sample used by a producer in Germany did not infringe on their copyright. From the BBC (emphasis added):
Posted 21 November 2008The ruling overturns an earlier decision against Moses Pelham’s use of a short sample from Metal on Metal.
Judges in Berlin said the two second extract did not infringe copyright, as his song was substantially different.