HAPPY BIRTHDAY TOWHOM?
THE STRANGE HISTORY OF ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’
a year on royalty charges. The Walt Disney Company paid $5,000 to use the song in a parade, and many documentaries were also impacted by the copyright. The civil rights documentary “Eyes on the Prize” never made it to DVD because the royalties charge on a scene of Martin Luther King celebrating his birthday was so high. Due to its age and popularity, many people have insisted “Happy Birthday” is, or at least should be, in the public domain. When Warner Music tried to charge filmmaker Jennifer Nelson royalties to make a film about the song, she filed a lawsuit. Her attorneys uncovered a 1922 songbook featuring “Happy Birthday” without any copyright notice. They even suggested Warner Music knowingly hid the songbook because it proved “Happy Birthday” had been in the public domain for decades. In 2015, a U.S. judge ruled that “Happy Birthday” is not under copyright. So, the next time you record guests singing “Happy Birthday” at a birthday party, you don’t have to worry about paying royalties if you upload it online.
Is your calendar full of birthday parties this month? You’re not alone. In the United States, more people are born in September than in any other month, meaning Americans will sing many choruses of “Happy Birthday” this month. This popular tune has a surprisingly controversial history. First composed by sisters Mildred and Patty Hill in 1893, the familiar melody originally belonged to a song called “Good Morning to All,” a song the sisters sang to their students every morning. Over time, the word “birthday” entered variations of the song and became a popular party tune. By the 1930s, “Happy Birthday” appeared all over in films and on the radio, prompting Mildred and Patty’s sister, Jessica, to secure the copyright to “Happy Birthday” due to its similarity to “Good Morning to All.” In 1988, Warner Music acquired the copyright, and the song’s ingrained popularity ensured a profit. They reportedly made $2 million
PRACTICE SCHOOL-ZONE SAFETY With These 3 Tips
off children. When its flashing red lights turn on and stop sign swings out to the side, make a full stop until the bus starts moving again. Passing a school bus while it is picking up or dropping off students is extremely unsafe and illegal in all 50 states. Model Safe Driving Habits You set an example for your kids with your driving habits. If you follow the rules of the road, your kids will be more likely to follow suit when they’re old enough to drive. While you should model safe driving practices wherever you drive, obeying all the rules and laws when you take your kids to school is the perfect way to show them what safe driving looks like.
By car, by bus, by bike, or on foot — however they get there — students are starting to make their way to school and turn the once-quiet school zones into some of the busiest sections of road. You might be a parent who drops their kids off at school as part of their morning commute, or you might just drive through a school zone on your way to work. Whatever the case, navigating school zones safely should be a priority. Here are some tips to keep in mind. Obey All Signs and Signals Speed limits decrease, yield lights and signs increase, and crossing guards slow and stop traffic to help young pedestrians across busy streets. Those extra safety precautions aren’t suggestions. Young children aren’t always mindful of busy streets and traffic, so it’s up to you to follow these laws. You should also avoid making risky maneuvers like lane changes and U-turns in school zones. Take Extra Care Around School Buses If you’re following a school bus, make sure to give it more space than you would normally give other vehicles. School buses make frequent stops to pick up and drop
Nearly one-fourth of child pedestrian fatalities happen between the hours of 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., right after school gets out. Driving safely in school zones is the best way to make sure every child gets home safely.
2 ZDFIRM.COM
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