Lawsuit: "Happy Birthday" is not in copyright, and Warner owes the world hundreds of millions for improperly collected royalties

Wed, 24 Sep 2014 02:32:32 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
http://boingboing.net/2013/06/13/lawsuit-happy-birthday-is.html

'Copyright scholars have long been pretty certain that "Happy Birthday
to You" is in the public domain, despite the fact that Warner/Chappell
claims copyright on it and charges impressive licensing fees to use it
in public performances. Those fees, however, are much lower than a
copyright lawsuit would be, so everyone shrugs and pays them. Until now.'

I've been saying this for ages - we've all been surrendering to
corporate extortion, and I hope they get what's coming to them plus
penalties and a century of compound interest.

Via David Fuchs.

Share and enjoy (the music),
                        *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net                   Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/             Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/                Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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