DON’T YOU KNOW THAT “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU” IS COPYRIGHTED? Lawsuit wants “Happy Birthday to You” to be in public domain By: Reymar Latoza June 15, 2013 A lawsuit was filed asking the federal court of New York to declare one of the world’s most popular song “Happy Birthday to you” to be in the public domain. For how many years 120 years, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, Warner/ Chappell Music Inc. had been claiming that they own the copyright to “Happy Birthday to you”. The said music company is also collecting licensing fees for reproduction and public performance of the song, which according to a lawsuit is unlawful and they need to return the millions of dollars they have collected. “Warner/Chappell has collected at least $2 million annually in licensing fees for the song, according to the lawsuit” ABS-CBN News Online reported. According to lawsuit, it was in 1898 when the said song was first published as “Good Morning to All”. It was written by sisters Patty and Mildred Hill. Soon after, the public began to sing the words to “ Happy Birthday to You” .Warner/ Chappell’s copyright claim stems from its acquisition in 1998 of Birch Tree Ltd., a company that traces its roots to Clayton Summy who bought the rights to “ Good Morning to All” from the hill sisters in 1893.(IMT/Rlatoza)
Posted on: Sat, 15 Jun 2013 02:28:21 +0000
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