With the English language's most recognized song at stake, Warner/Chappell Music is not backing down from a bold challenge. On Friday, the music publisher responded in court for the first time to a lawsuit that claims that "Happy Birthday" is in the public domain. As first covered by The Hollywood Reporter and followed by news outlets around the world, the plaintiff in the case has traced the origins of the popular composition to a schoolteacher named Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred Hill in the late 19th century. The plaintiff has provided evidence that much of what we know
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- 9/3/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Did you know that Warner Bros. currently owns the rights to the song "Happy Birthday to You"? What about the fact that it costs $1,500 to feature the song just once in a film? Documentarian Jennifer Nelson, who is currently making a documentary about the history of "Happy Birthday to You," didn't realize either of those facts when she started making her film, and has now filed a $50 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. over the song rights.
"Before I began my filmmaking career, I never thought the song was owned by anyone. I thought it belonged to everyone," Nelson tells The New York Times. Her goal is to have the song be declared public domain.
Back in 1988, Warner Bros. paid $25 million to purchase the rights to "Happy Birthday" from Birchtree Ltd. It's estimated that the company makes $2 million per year in licensing fees from the song. Nelson's lawsuit notes that "Happy...
"Before I began my filmmaking career, I never thought the song was owned by anyone. I thought it belonged to everyone," Nelson tells The New York Times. Her goal is to have the song be declared public domain.
Back in 1988, Warner Bros. paid $25 million to purchase the rights to "Happy Birthday" from Birchtree Ltd. It's estimated that the company makes $2 million per year in licensing fees from the song. Nelson's lawsuit notes that "Happy...
- 6/14/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
In the late 19th century, a schoolteacher named Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred Hill composed the first version of a tune that would become internationally famous. In fact, "Happy Birthday" has been cited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the most recognized song in the English language. Yet, throughout the ensuing years, it's been under copyright control to the befuddlement of many who don't understand how something authored so long ago still necessitates a license fee whenever it is publicly performed. Yes, the copyright term is long, but not that long. Right? A new lawsuit being filed
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- 6/13/2013
- by Eriq Gardner
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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