The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
A real out-of-court settlement over Vanilla Ice’s uncredited “Ice Ice Baby” bassline, with all four Queen members and Bowie added as formal co-writers of that song. The dollar figure is genuinely contested: Vanilla Ice says he paid ~$4M to buy the publishing outright; a Queen spokesperson calls it “shared publishing,” not a buyout — both accounts are presented, neither asserted.
Quick Facts
Released1981
AlbumHot Space
GenreRock, Pop, New Wave
LabelEMI / Elektra Records
ProducerQueen, David Bowie & Reinhold Mack
Recorded atMountain Studios, Montreux
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The songwriters of record — Deacon, May, Mercury, Taylor & Bowie
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The publishing (contested) — Vanilla Ice says he bought it outright (~$4M); Queen’s spokesperson calls it “shared” — disputed
Ultimateclassicrock → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — most famously (and initially without credit) as the bassline of Vanilla Ice’s “Ice Ice Baby” (this batch); the settlement added all five writers as co-writers of that song.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; confirmed songwriters of record.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
Used this bassline; the settlement added all five writers as co-writers (this batch)
Same band, Queen (already in this catalogue)
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor & David Bowie
A confirmed dispute — with a genuinely contested characterizationRather than face a lawsuit over “Ice Ice Baby,” Vanilla Ice settled with Queen and Bowie. Years later he said in interviews the settlement effectively amounted to buying the publishing rights to “Under Pressure” outright from Brian May, for a reported $4 million — choosing that over paying ongoing royalties. However, a Queen spokesperson has directly disputed this, describing the arrangement instead as the publishing simply being “shared,” not a full buyout. Presented as a confirmed dispute with a genuinely contested characterization — the $4M/“bought it outright” claim is Vanilla Ice’s own; Queen’s spokesperson disputes it. Neither is asserted here.
The recording (current administrator)Genuinely contested per the dispute above
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
A significant credit outcome
As part of the settlement, Bowie and all four Queen members were added as formal co-songwriters on “Ice Ice Baby” itself.
Rolling Stone (Songs on Trial) · read it →
How Mercury first heard it
Freddie Mercury reportedly first heard “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990 at breakfast — his assistant recalled he was more “bemused” than angry, recognizing it immediately as a direct rip-off, and called manager Jim Beach, who engaged attorneys. No lyrics reproduced.
garcia-zamor.com · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
Its bassline drove Vanilla Ice’s #1 “Ice Ice Baby”
Covers
1990
First flip
Big names who used itVanilla Ice
Who to Contact
UP
Queen & David Bowie
The confirmed songwriters of record
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
Don't Want the Hassle?
Sample something pre-cleared insteadCheck Tracklib →
Find a similar sound that's 100% freeBrowse the catalog →
References
Every source cited on this page — 5 in total
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 23)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass