'Happy Birthday' officially became a free song

The US court (September 22) officially announced that all copyright to the birthday song "Happy Birthday" has no effect, everyone can sing this song on every occasion. birthday or commercial events.

Happy Birthday songs belong to the public

"The song belongs to the public," Mark Rifkin, a lawyer representing the documentary studio filed against Sony, said.

For nearly eight decades, the most sung song in the world has been controversial, the public is not allowed to use this song in many cases, because many publishers claim to hold the copyright to the song. That means those who want to use the song "Happy Birthday " for commercial purposes will have to pay to sing. Many restaurants and entertainment centers are therefore forced to pay or sing other songs with similar melodies. However, the song is said to have brought $ 2 million per year to its copyright holder, Warner-Chappell, a unit owned by Sony Corporation.

But in a 40-page decision, District Court Judge George H. King said he found no evidence that the songwriters, the sister couple named Mildred and Patty Hill, gave the rights. What song is that song for the publisher?"There is no evidence that the Patty Hill sisters have sought to protect their own Happy Birthday song music, so we can deduce that they wanted to give the song rights to Summy Co publisher. " he wrote. "The Hill sisters have never tried to copyright the song Happy Birthday, even though Patty claimed to have written this song decades ago. None of the sisters of the Hill sued anyone. pirate songs ".

Sony's representative has declined to comment on the incident.

"This is a great victory for musicians, artists and everyone in the world who have been waiting for decades to get this freedom," said Jennifer Nelson, filmmaker who is making the set. Documentary about Happy Birthday song, said. "I am very happy to be part of the historic effort to make the song" Happy Birthday "become a free song, and everyone can freely sing that song. public. "

Now, we can freely enjoy the melody of this song without having to worry about copyright issues. Please listen to the gentle and joyful melodies of this song: