Author-less

The question of what should be considered without an author is complicated. In class we have discussed the possibility that everything or nothing could be considered authored. We have all agreed that there is much gray area in that continuum. So back to the question, what should be authored. We read in Mcleod's article that hip-hop samples other musicians music constantly. They sometimes settle out of court, but there is no precedent to judge future DJ's works. But, if the hip-hop song was later used and/or taken out of context, the DJ could sue for infringement. While I am not answering the question, I find more and more tensions in the attempt to answer the questions. Even more difficulties arise when discussing verbal communications. Sermons are rarely written down in an accessible way. The recent controversy with one of Obama's supporters whose sermon happened to be videotaped. Do the news channels who keep showing the clip over and over again give authorsip to the minister, the videographer or CNN?