There's a fine line between parody and plagiarism. Usually the difference is in how it is presented, if there is an effort to conceal or otherwise not acknowledge the source from where a work is derived. George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" in no way credits or suggests a relationship to The Chiffons' "He's So Fine", and he was sued and lost. Tone Loc, in his song "Wild Thing", sampled Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin'" was sued and settled out of court for $180,000. Weird Al Yankovic has never been sued for his parodies, but he asks the artist's permission anyway before recording. Maybe that's what should have happened in this case.
There's a fine line between parody and plagiarism. Usually the difference is in how it is presented, if there is an effort to conceal or otherwise not acknowledge the source from where a work is derived. George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" in no way credits or suggests a relationship to The Chiffons' "He's So Fine", and he was sued and lost. Tone Loc, in his song "Wild Thing", sampled Van Halen's "Jamie's Cryin'" was sued and settled out of court for $180,000. Weird Al Yankovic has never been sued for his parodies, but he asks the artist's permission anyway before recording. Maybe that's what should have happened in this case.
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