"Happy Birthday to You" worth millions, literally

[Teddy]

If you've grown up in a primarily English area you've probably found it tradition to sing the "Happy Birthday" song. You've also most likely assumed this song was part of the public domain. However, behind the light it isn't.

A company known as Warner/Chappell Music which is part of Warner Music Group owns the legal rights to tune and have sued for as much as $150,000 USD for copyright infringement. Want to include song in a video, TV show or other form of media? Pay nearly $1,000 USD for the license to the song. The good thing is, you won't likely get sued over singing at your local parties unless it has media coverage or you record it and upload it to youtube. Which is good, because I sung it only a few days ago

They've earned millions over the years in court cases including those against The White House for when President Obama sang the song on National Television, The Vatican for when hundreds sang to Pope Benedict and was shown on Television.

Given all this, a film maker has taken a stand recently and filed a law suit against Warner Music Group. Demanding the song be released to the public domain and that millions be paid back in royalties.

What do you think of this? Have you heard the song before?

[Gmail]

What a bunch of dicks, so we can't sing Happy Birthday without being sued? Well damn.

[Luis.]

Obviously we did.
Plus, that guy is a genious! :wow:

[Teddy]

Obviously we did.
Plus, that guy is a genious! :wow:

Was two women,  Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill who wrote it in 1893. The rights have been transferred a number of times and currently are under Warner Music Group until 2030.

[PulseEffect]

There should be a law protecting the usage of common terms/songs/etc and allowing people to talk about it without getting sued...
Anyways as usual

/irage 

[[WS]Jacob]

I sing it under Fair Use legislation.

[Marcel]

Good thing American laws only apply in the U S of 'Murica.

[Teddy]

Good thing American laws only apply in the U S of 'Murica.

well...

The Vatican for when hundreds sang to Pope Benedict and was shown on Television.

The United States has copyright agreements with hundreds of countries. They respect our copyrights, we respect theirs. Also, the company is legally based out of the United Kingdom. Affects many countries

[Matt Murdock]

Was two women,  Patty Hill and Mildred J. Hill who wrote it in 1893. The rights have been transferred a number of times and currently are under Warner Music Group until 2030.

Time to start saving up.

[Mikal]

The song probably wasnt created by them or anyone associated with them, and they probably were the first ones to copyright it which is why they own the rights to it, I think it's stupid that such a common thing should make them so much money through sueing unsuspecting people just singing it over a birthday, what a douche bag company they are.

[[WS]Jacob]

I'm really surprised Disney hasn't taken it and copyrighted it for themselves.

[~Legend~]

There are so many things that people have sued for which are far more ludicrous.

As majority would not know about the legal side of this it's too bad that they can't use the defense of not being aware as they probably didn't mean to cause harm (if anything the other way round : D).

[Mr. Goobii]

The United States has copyright agreements with hundreds of countries. They respect our copyrights, we respect theirs. Also, the company is legally based out of the United Kingdom. Affects many countries

Like we care! @ Piratebay  :cool: