If they’re stepping on other people’s rights – and that is where copyright infringement is concerned.
However, things like? They have happened before. One notorious case was when the legendary David Bowie sued Vanilla Ice.
Here’s how it happened!
Copyright Law
Copyright Act Chapter 63 was written in 1987; in 2006, it got a revised reversion. In the 2006 version, it was stated that authors who produced their original work automatically got copyright protection. It means that works produced initially have been created with the author’s effort have undergone processes of developing ideas and have also been worded in a different way.
The works are not only protected within their own country. It is also covered, by extension, by the countries that have adjusted and given into international agreements. As a result, these works can only be reproduced with consent in other countries – especially countries in active agreement with copyright law and international agreements.
The Case
Vanilla Ice created a song. The song was Ice Ice Baby, and the sample had been supposedly taken from David Bowie and Queen’s music, Under Pressure. Vanilla Ice did not give David Bowie and Queen credit for the sampling and denied the sampling; he also released a statement that it was a “joke.”
Compared to the Queen/Bowie 1981 track, a solitary note is the only difference. The court would favor the earlier composition, and so both Queen and Bowie were added to the credits for writing the song. Moreover, David Bowie and Queen sued Vanilla Ice, and the latter admitted that the work was sampled from their music. The conflict was settled privately, with Vanilla Ice needing to compensate them financially.
Gear up with a patent attorney!
Sampling Policy
If you need to use music you did not create, it is essential to ask for permission; to do so, you must get a license from the original artist. Otherwise, you are on the brink of committing copyright infringement. There are no exceptions to this rule.
The license you get will also depend on how you use the music because many licenses are made for different uses. Sample clearance is a good example; it means you have to get the consent of the original music rights holders to use their music. The process is held in two (2) parts.
The process can be long and tricky. However, if you do not adhere to it, you might get into hot water via a copyright infringement case.
What Can We Learn from It
There are many things we can learn from this case. Firstly, copyright law is essential. The second is to honor the integrity of intellectual property since such work was produced and influenced by an artist’s personal feelings, knowledge, and experiences.
Wrapping Up
The David Bowie vs. Vanilla Ice case was one of the landmark cases for copyright because of the sample and the incident. Moreover, it is another reminder for us to remember that artists are human and they need to be treated with respect, too.
