Discovery MythBusters
Believe it or not when you sing this song to your friend, you are infringing the copyright.
On top of that, you are against the law every time you sing it in the original tune and lyrics.
So, you've sinned many many times ignorantly. Now can you say you never sin? Oh, definitely "NO"
hahahaha...
Ever wondered why some restaurants make up their own silly birthday songs for their staff to sing to patrons? It's so they don't have to pay royalties. Every time you celebrate someone's birthday at a restaurant or other public place, you are technically committing copyright infringement by singing "Happy Birthday to You" to the birthday girl or boy.
The tune was written by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, and copyrighted in 1934 by their sister Jessica. Although the original copyright would have expired in 1991, two intervening acts of Congress have extended it through at least 2030. The song earns about $2 million per year in royalties — and would probably make a lot more if The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) had a representative enforcing the copyright at restaurants.
Believe it or not when you sing this song to your friend, you are infringing the copyright.
On top of that, you are against the law every time you sing it in the original tune and lyrics.
So, you've sinned many many times ignorantly. Now can you say you never sin? Oh, definitely "NO"
hahahaha...
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