A judge has approved a settlement that will put “Happy Birthday to You” in the public domain.
U.S. District Judge George King approved the agreement Monday. It ends the ownership claims of Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing company that has been collecting royalties on the song for years.
The company has agreed to pay back $14 million to those who have paid licensing fees to use the song.
Last year, King ruled that the company didn’t own the lyrics to the ditty, one of the best-known and most beloved songs in the world. He said the company has no right to charge for the song’s use.
Warner/Chappell has said it didn’t try to collect royalties from just anyone singing the song but those who use it in a commercial enterprise.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
I for one allways belived trump would win I VOTE for trump. I don’t waste votes or time. bill
Trump in 2016, our last chance to turn this great country around and save AMERICA. TRUMP TRUMP
What has Trump got to do with a copyright argument that’s been going on since before he was born?
I am going to wright in John Kasich when I vote as I fell he was the best Man in the race and I can not support Mr Trump as he is just pandering to what the people want to hear where ever he is. He is a master manipulator in his business practice and personal life as well. Calling the Judge a “Mexican” was the most stupid thing he has said so far. I am sure he is not done embarrassing the country yet, it is a few more months before the rest of the people who do the November Voting will be there to cut him down.
Will I be wasting my vote? Perhaps but I will be able to sleep at night by doing so.
What’s that got to do with an old song?
I am from Ohio and voted for Kasich as governor. I will never support him again. He was paid to stay in the race just to screw things up. There was no way he could ever win and he knew it. His actions during the primary showed me just how “establishment loyal” he is.
AND WASTE YOUR VOTE??????????
You will not sleep at night if Trump losses. And we have been singing “happy birthday” since I was born in 1941
Happy birthday America!
It may be our last.
I was for Trump from the beginning. But I am being driven out of his fan club by the idiots who continually interrupt a dialogue that has nothing to do with Trump by shouting his praises.
But then I think, ‘They might be paid by Hillary to make people pissed at Trump.’