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Happy Birthday To You copyright case settled | |
(35 minutes later) | |
A legal dispute over copyright fees for the song Happy Birthday To You has been settled out of court. | |
The music company Warner/Chappell had claimed the rights to the song but earlier this year a judge ruled that the lyrics could be used without the need to pay royalties. | The music company Warner/Chappell had claimed the rights to the song but earlier this year a judge ruled that the lyrics could be used without the need to pay royalties. |
A group of artists and filmmakers had sought to claim back the money collected by the firm over the years. | A group of artists and filmmakers had sought to claim back the money collected by the firm over the years. |
The terms of the agreement have not been revealed. | The terms of the agreement have not been revealed. |
Warner/Chappell is thought to have made $2m (£1.3m) a year by charging every time the song was used in a film, television episode, advertisement or other public performance. | Warner/Chappell is thought to have made $2m (£1.3m) a year by charging every time the song was used in a film, television episode, advertisement or other public performance. |
It acquired the copyright in 1988 but a judge ruled it was only granted for specific arrangements of the music, not the song itself. | It acquired the copyright in 1988 but a judge ruled it was only granted for specific arrangements of the music, not the song itself. |
In a statement the company said: "While we respectfully disagreed with the court's decision, we are pleased to have now resolved this matter." | |
The lawyer for the artists, Mark Rifkin, told Reuters he was pleased with the agreement but did not give any further details. | |
The tune was composed by two Kentucky sisters in 1893. | 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 song that is popularly sung at birthday parties around the world. | Mildred and Patty Hill called their version Good Morning To All, which later evolved into the song that is popularly sung at birthday parties around the world. |
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