You may now sing “Happy Birthday to You” for free

Did you know that when you sing “Happy Birthday to You,” unless you have paid royalties to Warner/Chappell Music, you have been violating the copyright law?  But no more.  A court has ruled that the song, based on an 1893 melody, is in the public domain.

The publishers do not pursue private uses of the song, but commercial uses, such as in movies, have been earning the company $2 million per year.

From Settlement over ‘Happy Birthday’ copyright puts song in public domain | Reuters:

A settlement has been reached in a U.S. lawsuit with Warner/Chappell Music over the copyright to “Happy Birthday to You” that will put one of the world’s most recognizable songs in the public domain, according to court papers released on Wednesday and a source close to the case.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed in court papers announcing the settlement, but it puts an end to the class-action lawsuit filed in 2013 by a group of artists and filmmakers who had sought a return of the millions of dollars in fees the company had collected over the years for use of the song.

Once the settlement is finalized, the song will be in the public domain, the source said. That means it will be free for all to use without fear of a lawsuit.

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