Such a simple tune.

And such complex litigation.

It’s hard to believe that a song as abbreviated and quickly learned — and widely known in countries across the globe for scores of years — as Happy Birthday to You can inspire such a detailed rehashing of history and competing versions of reality.

The tune is innocuous, but the attendant litigation is certainly heated.

And that is understandable, given the copyright interest claimed in Happy Birthday and the resulting collection of royalties that comes from licensing fees paid by users.

Happy Birthday began its first-ever foray into controversy a couple years back, when a filmmaker making a documentary about the song unexpectedly received a $1,500 bill from Warner/Chappell ( a subsidiary of Warner Music Group), with Warner demanding payment as the alleged copyright owner of the song.

Not true, countered the filmmaker, who, along with other plaintiffs, filed a class action lawsuit contending that the world-famous birthday ode is not owned by anybody. The plaintiffs’ complaint alleges, conversely, that the song has been in the public domain since 1922.

That claim — that no copyright has attached to Happy Birthday for more than 90 years — is starkly contrastive to what Warner alleges, namely, that it lawfully secured rights to the song after its purchase of a company in 1988. Prior to that, the company maintains, there was a clear chain of ownership.

The plaintiffs dispute that, stating that Warner handed them a “proverbial smoking gun” during discovery that absolutely refutes its contention. The plaintiffs are referring to what they say is a 1927 publication containing the song and lyrics that makes no reference or claim to any copyright.

Happy Birthday was long ago “given to the nation,” says a legal representative for the plaintiffs.

A federal judge will ultimately determine whether that is the case.

Source: Courthouse News Service, “‘Happy Birthday’ belongs to all, filmmaker says,” Matt Reynolds, July 29, 2015

Client Reviews

Jonas Y., Google

Rated 5 out of 5

If you need a “ Closer”, go see Troy. Troy has been one of the best attorneys I have ever worked with. I don’t typically give reviews but after the last case Troy helped me settle out of court, I won’t hesitate to use Troy again! Thanks for all you do Troy !

Jonas Y
Verified

Daniel E., Google

Rated 5 out of 5

I left a voicemail for Tom late Sunday evening and received a phone call first thing the next morning.

Tom was very quick to reply to any questions I had, and if he was caught up in a meeting, he was sure to return my call promptly.

Tom provided sound and logical advice, during a very stressful and uncertain time. At times I asked him to be more aggressive and was often met with the pros and cons of that decision, allowing me to understand the approach and thought process behind his strategy.

Ultimately he provided options for several paths for us to take, worked swiftly, and got us where we needed to be.

He reached out several times to check on my sanity and make sure I was good.

As someone with very high expectations, I would highly recommend his services. He provided expertise that proved to be successful, and also took the time to make sure I was emotionally solid.

Tom assisted with me with a 50% / 50% ownership conflict.

Daniel E
Verified

Bob W., Google

Rated 5 out of 5

What was thought to be a simple breach of contract turned into a nightmare. Through their tenacity and their deep knowledge of the law, we were successful. There is no reason to look any further as you will not get any better representation than this firm. I highly recommend them and strongly suggest that if you are considering starting a business or are already managing one, this firm will guide you, avoiding the troubled waters businesses sometimes find themselves in.

Bob W
Verified

Meet Our San Diego Attorneys

Contact Gallagher Krich, APC

Fax: 858-435-4369

30+ years of combined experience.