Happy Birthday To You Copyright Challenged

[Jazzy]

A production company is challenging the copyright to what is considered the most famous song in the English language.

Good Morning To You Productions argues that Happy Birthday To You should be "dedicated to public use and in the public domain", according to a lawsuit filed on Thursday.

The company is working on a film tentatively titled Happy Birthday.

It is seeking restitution of more than $5m (£3.2m) in licencing fees collected by Warner/Chappell Music from thousands of people and groups who have paid to use the song.

The music publishing arm of Warner Music Group claims exclusive copyright to Happy Birthday To You, which Guinness World Records has called the most famous song in the English language.

Good Morning To You Productions filed the lawsuit after having to pay Warner/Chappell $1,500 (£955) in licencing fees in order to avoid a $150,000 (£95,965) fine, after using the song in a film scene.

"More than 120 years after the melody to which the simple lyrics of Happy Birthday To You is set was first published, defendant Warner/Chappell boldly, but wrongfully and unlawfully, insists that it owns the copyright to Happy Birthday To You," the lawsuit claims.

Good Morning To You Productions argues that evidence dating to 1893 shows the song's copyright expired around 1921.

The lawsuit says Warner/Chappell has laid false claim to the exclusive copyright to the song.

Full article

This is ridiculous. Does this mean everyone, myself included, should not be singing this song?

 

[Evil Eye]

120 years of copyright... impressive.

This is ridiculous. Does this mean everyone, myself included, should not be singing this song?

As long as they don't ask, don't tell