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- Jul 6, 2010
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- Broken beyond repair but highly affable
Warner/Chappell Music can no longer collect fees when you sing 'Happy Birthday To You', a ruling determined this week. The original authors of the song apparently never properly and completely transferred the copyrights to the original publisher, a Summy Co. and in fact it was proven that that transaction wasn't all there and therefore the successor Warner/Chappell has no rights to claim copyright, leaving the tune in the public domain.
The final ruling came about after many film and TV producers began to complain mightily about having to shell out thousands of dollars for what was believed to be a common and public work.
Now it remains to be determined if Warner must reimburse all the people who paid to use the tune.
So stop worrying about lawsuits and go back to worrying about death and taxes and politics, normal crap, you have been vindicated.
The final ruling came about after many film and TV producers began to complain mightily about having to shell out thousands of dollars for what was believed to be a common and public work.
Now it remains to be determined if Warner must reimburse all the people who paid to use the tune.
So stop worrying about lawsuits and go back to worrying about death and taxes and politics, normal crap, you have been vindicated.