ClearTheSample is a reference for sample clearance: who owns a song, whether it's been sampled before, and how to clear it. Here's exactly how we decide what goes on a page — and what we won't claim.
Every fact carries one of three confidence levels, shown as a dot next to it:
There is no score. A number would imply false precision and invite comparing songs that aren't comparable. Instead each page carries a descriptive verdict — a category that states what the facts are (“Documented Sampling History”, “Cleared After Dispute”, “No Payment Mechanism”, “Public Domain”) plus one plain-language line of reasoning. The label describes a documented state; you draw the conclusion. Labels are deliberately non-evaluative — no “good/bad” or “likely/unlikely” — and the badge color is neutral, so nothing nudges you toward a feeling the facts don't support.
The separate completeness bar (X confirmed · Y reported · Z unknown) is just an objective count of how much we've nailed down — not a judgment.
Every label describes a documented state — nothing more. The catalogue uses four verdicts. You can browse it grouped by verdict from the collections page.
We present disputes; we don't settle them. Where a song's history includes a legal fight or a contested claim, the page lays out what each side has said — with sources — and stops there. We don't declare a winner the facts don't support. Active, unresolved litigation is flagged as ongoing (its own distinct banner), never dressed up as a settled outcome. Where a claim is real but thinly evidenced, we say so and mark it Reported rather than Confirmed.
Some pages carry a “Used by independents?” note. It answers one narrow, practical question: is there documented use of this song by an independent (non-major-label) artist? We read it loosely — any documented instance of an independent act using the work counts, regardless of how, or whether, it was formally cleared. A “Yes” is a data point about real-world use, not a claim that clearance is easy or that permission was granted.
No page reproduces song lyrics. Quotes from interviews, court records and the press are paraphrased, and we link to the source so you can read the original in context. It keeps the reference on the right side of copyright while still showing our work.
Research is AI-assisted and verified against primary sources; every claim links to where it came from. We treat AI as a research accelerant, not an authority — nothing is published on a model's say-so alone.
Maintained by the ClearTheSample team. This page is informational, not legal advice — always confirm current rightsholders before release.