The U.S. Copyright Office invites you to register to attend the upcoming Black History Month online event, “Hip-Hop Beyond 50: Protecting and Promoting Culture,” on February 21, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. eastern time. Hip-hop, a uniquely American art form rooted in African American culture, marked its official fiftieth anniversary in 2023. The musical genre has been popularized all over the world, encompassing MCing, DJing, breakdancing, graffiti art, beatboxing, and more. In this sixty-minute session, attendees will learn from the Copyright Office, industry experts, and practitioners about how hip-hop has influenced creators worldwide and about the Office resources available on sampling, interpolations, and beat stores. 

Guest speakers include 

• Dae Bogan – Head of Third-Party Partnerships at The Mechanical Licensing Collective  
• Jamila Sams – Founder and CEO of We Do it for the Culture™ and Go to Ms. Sams 
• Bruce Waynne – Grammy Award–winning music producer, publisher, and label executive; President of Vyre 
• Junious Brickhouse – Director of Next Level, Hip Hop Diplomacy Program 

The Copyright Office aims to broaden public awareness of what the copyright system encompasses and how to participate. A cornerstone of our current strategic plan is Copyright for All, and the Office dedicates itself to making the copyright system as understandable and accessible to as many members of the public as possible.