Legal Research

Birthdays and Copyright Infringement

By Mariko

Have you sung the Happy Birthday song to any of your friends in a restaurant, at a park, in the mall?  If so, you’ve been infringing on the copyright owned by Time Warner, purchased from Jessica Hill, whose sisters Mildred and Patty wrote the song as a teaching aide. That copyright may just be why you hear different birthday songs at restaurants like Applebees.

If you want to report someone for impinging on this copyright, which was due to expire in 1991, but has been renewed numerous times, Unhappy Birthday has a letter already written out, complete with contact information as well as shirts and mugs if you want to broadcast your distaste for those who ignore copyright by singing the song.  From there, you can also take a look at a few articles from law professors and laymen about the status and history of the song.

Full post as published by Ross-Blakley Law Library Blog on August 29, 2010 (boomark / email).