Intellectual Property Expert Reacts To Birthday Song Ruling

Since 2013 a US legal case had been pending regarding the status of copyrights in the popular song, ‘Happy Birthday To You.’ Yesterday a US judge ruled that the song is no longer protected by copyright in the US. 

Warner Chappell Music acquired the copyright to the popular song over three decades ago and has made millions in royalties since, for example by charging a licence fee every time the song was used in a film, television programme, advert or public performance. 

The US federal judge ruled that the original copyright granted was only given for specific arrangements of the music, not the song itself, highlighting that there was no copyright over the lyrics in the song. 

Georgie Collins, Irwin Mitchell’s intellectual property specialist commented on the ruling;