Song Clearance Sheet
3 sources citedTrans-Europe Express
See all Kraftwerk in the catalogue →
Electronic1970sThe verdict
Cleared After Dispute
Two real dispute-and-resolution stories tied to this album: the 1980s “Planet Rock” interpolation settlement, and the separate decade-plus German federal case (Metal on Metal / “Nur Mir”) resolved in Kraftwerk’s favor. Both are settled outcomes.
Sampled 76+ tracks (WhoSampled) times · reportedly open to sampling
Used by independents?
Yes — recreated by Afrika Bambaataa on the independent Tommy Boy label in 1982 (“Planet Rock”).
Quick Facts
Released1977
AlbumTrans-Europe Express
GenreElectronic, Krautrock
LabelKling Klang
ProducerRalf Hütter · Florian Schneider
Recorded atKling Klang Studio, Düsseldorf
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Ralf Hütter & Florian Schneider
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Kling Klang, Kraftwerk’s own label/company (they keep unusually tight catalog control) — not independently confirmed this pass
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — one of the most-referenced blueprints in electronic music; WhoSampled lists it in at least 76 tracks. Both disputes tied to this album reached settled outcomes.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; Kraftwerk are protective, but there is a clear settled precedent (a private “Planet Rock” settlement and a formal German court case resolved in their favor).
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The 1982 electro track that interpolated this melody — settled privately with Kraftwerk
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Ralf Hütter & Florian Schneider
The recording (current administrator)Kling Klang (Kraftwerk’s own label/company)
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
Story one — the “Planet Rock” interpolation settlement
Afrika Bambaataa and Arthur Baker’s 1982 “Planet Rock” didn’t digitally sample this track (samplers weren’t yet widespread) — they recreated the melody, interpolating the title track plus a drum pattern resembling Kraftwerk’s “Numbers.” Baker has confirmed they settled with Kraftwerk for “a lot of money.”
SPIN · read it →
Story two — a separate, decade-plus German federal case (different song)
Sabrina Setlur’s 1997 “Nur Mir” (prod. Moses Pelham) sampled a short rhythm loop from Kraftwerk’s “Metal on Metal” — a DIFFERENT track on this album. The battle ran over a decade, reached Germany’s highest court for non-constitutional matters, and was resolved in Kraftwerk’s favor — a closely-watched modern sampling-law case, distinct from the Planet Rock settlement.
SPIN · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
76+ tracks (WhoSampled)
Times sampled
—
Covers
1982
First flip
Big names who used itAfrika Bambaataa · (electro/hip-hop broadly)
Who to Contact
KW
Kraftwerk / Kling Klang
The songwriters of record and their own tightly-controlled label
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (SEO Batch)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending a separate manual keyfinder pass