Copyright's Rhythm of Exclusion: Unpacking the Systemic Roots of Music Ownership Disputes
Original framing: “Can a rhythm be owned? What a reggaeton lawsuit reveals about how copyright misunderstands music” — The Conversation - Global
The article foregrounds systemic inequities, pointing out that the current regime privileges well‑resourced rights holders over community‑based creators. It gives a voice to those disadvantaged by the law, though it does not feature direct testimonies.
The reggaeton lawsuit exposes how a legal framework built for individual ownership clashes with the inherently communal, cross‑cultural nature of music, perpetuating historical patterns of cultural appropriation and marginalisation.
By integrating Indigenous concepts of shared rhythm, acknowledging artistic‑spiritual dimensions, and employing future‑oriented modelling, we can redesign copyright to honor collective creativity. A trickster lens reveals the absurdity of trying to own a beat, urging a shift toward protective, inclusive mechanisms that empower the voices most affected by exclusion.