24 Sep 2015

Judge rules "Happy Birthday to You" free of copyright

From Morning Report, 7:56 am on 24 September 2015

The company collecting royalties to Happy Birthday To You does not hold a valid copyright to the song, a US federal judge has ruled.

Birthday cake at a children's party.

Photo: 123RF

Warner/Chappell acquired the copyright - which was originally filed in 1935 - in 1988.

But judge George King ruled the original copyright was only granted for specific arrangements of the music, not the song itself.

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 version popular at birthday parties worldwide.

The case against Warner/Chappell was launched in 2013 by Rupa Marya and Robert Siegel, who are making a film about the song.

The music publisher asked for $US1500 for the right to use Happy Birthday To You in the film.

Ms Marya and Mr Siegel argued the song was in the public domain and should not be subject to copyright fees.

Judge King ruled Summy had never acquired copyright to the song's words.

"The Hill sisters gave Summy Co the rights to the melody, and the rights to piano arrangements based on the melody but never any rights to the lyrics," he said.

The rights to the song were eventually purchased by Warner/Chappell for $US25 million when they bought a successor company to Summy in the 1980s.

Warner/Chappell has made around $US2m a year from royalty payments whenever the song is used in a film, television episode, advertisement or other public performance.

"We are looking at the court's lengthy opinion and considering our options," Warner/Chappell said, after the ruling was announced.

- BBC

Morning Report host Susie Furguson talks to lawyer Mark Rifkin about the legal stoush.