brit-gob 9 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 It's my Mums birthday today. Happy Birthday Mum. Sorry, I'm not with you. Sort of changing the subject, this is interesting: "Happy Birthday" (1893). Estimated earnings: $50 million Most people have no idea that the song you sing at every birthday party ever is copyrighted material. The song was written by a pair of sisters who were kindergarten teachers. Ownership of the song has traded hands several times over the last century. In 1990 Warner Chappell paid $15 million for the rights. Technically it's illegal to sing "Happy Birthday" in a large group of unrelated people (like an office party) without paying a royalty to the current copyright holder Warner Music Group (which is owned by a private corporate conglomerate called Access Industries). Today the song brings in $2 million a year in royalties ($5000 per day). It costs $25,000 to use the song in a movie or TV show which explains why you often see the characters sing an odd, amalgamated version on screen. This also explains why chain restaurants sing their own custom songs for a guest's birthday. The copyright for "Happy Birthday" expires in 2030 in the United States and 2016 in the European Union, at which point we can all finally sing Happy Birthday without writing a royalty check. Link to post Share on other sites
HelperElfMissy 42 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 LOL! Guess we all owe the Happy Birthday writers a little cheque then.... 0.o Link to post Share on other sites
pie-eater 207 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Happy Birthday, brit-gob's Mum. I hope you will diligently pay Warner Music Group if you sing it in a large group of unrelated people. Keep it to family, and I presume it will jolly well be free. Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 It's my Dad's birthday today as well Link to post Share on other sites
Chriselle 158 Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 I did not know that.... !! Nor, did I need to know.. (edit...not you Tubby ) Thanks Buzzkill...I mean..Brit-Gob.. Link to post Share on other sites
brit-gob 9 Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 Better than the police coming round, arresting you and spending the rest of your life in jail...surely?! Link to post Share on other sites
Hokkaidough 4 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Come to think of it, I have sometimes heard some rather strange renditions of it in movies. Now I know why! Link to post Share on other sites
Big Al 16 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 It's my wife's Honda CRV's 1st Birthday tomorrow - 9/11 !!!! Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 A car? Link to post Share on other sites
Tubby Beaver 209 Posted September 11, 2014 Share Posted September 11, 2014 No silly......top music!! Link to post Share on other sites
634-maru 4 Posted September 12, 2014 Share Posted September 12, 2014 That was truly great! Link to post Share on other sites
Karnidge 2 Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Wonder if they lived to enjoy the wealth? Link to post Share on other sites
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