Wednesday 28th October 18.30h
COPYRIGHT
HAPPY
BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
Did
you know that this song had a copyright? Not any more.
The
tune was composed by two Kentucky sisters in 1893.
Mildred
and Patty Hill called their version Good Morning To All, which later
evolved into the song that is popularly
sung at birthday parties around the world.
Warner/Chappell
had been collecting copyright fees since 1988 but a decision by Judge
George H. King of United States District Court in Los Angeles,stating
that their copyright is not valid, is a blow to the music publisher
Warner/Chappell and its parent company, the Warner Music Group, which
have controlled the song since 1988 and reportedly still collect some
$2 million annually in licensing fees for it.
More
on the topic of copyright at our discussion group.
Contact
us at asedow@gmail.com for the links