Get Permission to Sing Happy Birthday
Ever wonder why restaurants never sing “Happy Birthday” anymore? It’s always some funky variation with clapping involved. Is this to maximize embarrassment? Maybe… it’s more likely that the restaurant owners are afraid of copyright infringement.
Time Warner actually owns the copyright to “Happy Birthday”. If you sing it in a public place, they could actually sue you. Would they? They collect $2 million in annual royalties on Happy Birthday. UnhappyBirthday.com encourages people to write ASCAP (the organization that enforces the copyright) if you anticipate singing “Happy Birthday” in the near future.
I think it’s time to rewrite some copyright laws in the United States.