Month: August 2015

Blow out the candles, sweep up that wrapping paper, and most of all, consider for a moment as to whether  all those lovely money gifts will go away? The plaintiffs in a much-publicized suit say they have found new, conclusive evidence that will help them persuade a federal judge to rain on Warner/Chappell Music Inc.’s party, specifically to end its claim to hold the lucrative copyright to what be one of the world’s most performed tunes: the Happy Birthday song. The plaintiffs have filed an ex parte application to submit new evidence that they assert Warner “mistakenly” had failed to hand over during discovery. Based on this trove of historic material, they also have sought summary judgment to halt Warner’s copyright claims and reports say a decision may come very soon. As the world awaits U.S. District Judge George King’s ruling on these matters in Los Angeles, let’s unwrap what may become a most unhappy matter for music publishing powerhouse. Two years ago, this blog and many others covered the copyright case that captured global attention because it asked,  Does Warner-Chappell really hold a valid copyright on  the birthday tune? Warner said it had such rights, without a doubt, when filmmaker Jennifer Nelson sought to make a documentary on the tune’s history. Because her film would include a scene in which the song is performed, she and her production company sought permission for its rights...

Blow out the candles, sweep up that wrapping paper, and most of all, consider for a moment as to whether  all those lovely money gifts will go away? The plaintiffs in a much-publicized suit say they have found new, conclusive evidence that will help them persuade a federal judge to rain on Warner/Chappell Music Inc.’s party, specifically to end its claim to hold the lucrative copyright to what be one of the world’s most performed tunes: the Happy Birthday song. The plaintiffs have filed an ex parte application to submit new evidence that they assert Warner “mistakenly” had failed to hand over during discovery. Based on this trove of historic material, they also have sought summary judgment to halt Warner’s copyright claims and reports say a decision may come very soon. As the world awaits U.S. District Judge George King’s ruling on these matters in Los Angeles, let’s unwrap what may become a most unhappy matter for music publishing powerhouse. Two years ago, this blog and many others covered the copyright case that captured global attention because it asked,  Does Warner-Chappell really hold a valid copyright on  the birthday tune? Warner said it had such rights, without a doubt, when filmmaker Jennifer Nelson sought to make a documentary on the tune’s history. Because her film would include a scene in which the song is performed, she and her production company sought permission for its rights...