Each week, host Michael Harriot will pick one question about history, politics, science, culture or anything else worth talking about. But instead of giving his opinion or sharing his feelings on the subject, he’ll bring in a scholar, expert or professional who actually knows what they’re talking about.

But these discussions won’t be neutral, performatively palatable or sterilized to make people comfortable. Instead of using “objectivity” as a standard (pronounced “Hoo why itt”), we’ll dive into each subject from an unapologetically Black perspective, grounded in real expertise and delivered with the wit, candor and cultural fluency that informs our ways of knowing.

The result is a show that doesn’t just inform you; it will recontextualize what you thought you knew, give you new insight and make you realize that you aren’t going crazy. We’ll have real experts like today’s guest, attorney Lisa E. Davis

Besides being one of the foremost entertainment and sports attorneys in the country, Davis is a certified “Super Lawyer” and the author of the new book: Our Minds Were Always Free: A History of How Black Brilliance Was Exploited—and the Fight to Retake Control. Today, she will help us answer the question:

Can you steal Black genius?

Let’s find out.

One question. Actual experts. Real answers.

Welcome to Blacksplained.

Takeaways

Theft of intellectual property has had a profound impact on the Black community
The limitations of the law in addressing intellectual property theft are evident Ownership and control are critical in the music industry
The role of record companies in curation and marketing is still significant in the digital age

Chapters

00:00 Theft of Intellectual Property
01:12 Blacksplained: A New Perspective
02:12 The Exploitation of Black Brilliance
03:31 The Impact of Intellectual Property Theft
06:44 The Legacy of Intellectual Property Theft
08:37 Intellectual Property and Capitalism
11:24 The Limitations of the Law
16:03 The Impact on Music and Art
20:15 Ownership and Exploitation
27:41 The Difference in Cover Versions
30:05 Theft and Responsibility
32:44 Ownership and Control
35:31 Masters and Catalog Leasing
41:09 Intellectual Property and Creativity
47:11 Record Companies and Curation
49:14 The Role of Algorithms
52:28 Black Creativity and American Culture

Blacksplained

Episodes 6

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