November 21, 2011
Situation
You are a song writer and you hear a song on the radio. You really like the beat! So you use the beat and write an original song without the consent of the original songwriters. Your song becomes an instant hit. So what happens when you come under attack for copyright infringement?
Legal Background
In 1981, Queen and David Bowie released the song “Under Pressure”. The song reached number one on UK music charts. In 1990, Vanilla Ice released his hit single “Ice Ice Baby” the beat the song was the same as “Under Pressure”. Queen and David Bowie sued the signer for sampling the beat to the song without permission or a license.
Results
This case never went to court as it was clear that Vanilla Ice had stolen the sample without permission. He settled out of court with Queen and David Bowie for an undisclosed but very likely very high amount. “Ice Ice Baby” has been released in many different versions, since then, with all of the legal procedures followed.
Questions to Consider?
What do you think the result would have been if the case went to court?
What is copyright infringement?
Are the songs Under Pressure or Ice Ice Baby now stuck in your head?
4 thoughts on “Vanilla Ice Under Pressure”
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November 21st, 2011 at 6:17 pm
1. If this case had gone to court, I feel like the court would have sided against Vanilla Ice because he settled out of court. For that very reason, he was guilty because it was like he had admitted that he stole the beat of that song. It is not okay to steal a song from another person because that would be very unoriginal so I think he should have had punishments for this. I am sure the court would have made Vanilla Ice pay a lot of money anyways so settling out of court was probably the best decision.
2. In my own words, copyright infringement is stealing someone else’s work and transforming it to use as your own. It is a reproduction of someone else’s work.
3. The song Ice Ice Baby is very much stuck in my head now 🙂
November 22nd, 2011 at 3:13 pm
1. In examining the content of the song one would have to find that both were very similar. After listening to the opening view seconds it is evident that both have the same beat line. The opening chords are almost identical. I feel in court Vanilla Ice would have lost. It is just too similar to claim as his own.
The fact that he settled a large settlement out of court shows he knew he was in the wrong and admits guilt to me.
Copy infringement is stealing someone’s original creative idea and using it without consent to do so.
3. Under Pressure and Ice Ice Baby are stuck in my head. More so by the lyrics then the beat
November 25th, 2011 at 12:36 am
1. If this case had went to court, I think that the court would have sided with Queen and David Bowie. Since it sounds like Vanilla Ice used almost the exact same beat for his own song, there was definitly a copyright infringement since the beat was already previously used.
2. Copyright infringement is stealing the work of another person that was put into some sort of medium whether it be print, broadcast or any other form.
3. YES! The words ice ice baby have been going through my head this whole time!
November 26th, 2011 at 5:43 pm
I think the court would of sided against Vanilla Ice if the case was took to court. It was clear that Vanilla Ice used almost the same beat and was a copyright infringement. In Vanilla Ice’s case, he did the best thing he could do and that was settling an agreement outside of court.
Copyright infringement is using someones work without permission.
Yes, Ice Ice Baby is stuck in my head.