In its Pelham ruling of April 14, 2026, the European Court of Justice clarified that the “pastiche” exception in copyright law may cover certain uses of sampling without prior authorization, provided they form part of a recognizable artistic or creative dialogue with the original work. The Court refuses, however, to make this a “catch-all” exception: it is neither intended to authorize any and all creative reuse nor to cover acts of plagiarism. The ruling handed down on April 14 by the Grand Chamber of the ECJ adds a new chapter to the interminable legal dispute surrounding Metall…
