IP Notes

Unhappy Birthday: "Dear ASCAP, The copyright status of 'Happy Birthday To You' and the law related to public performances of copyrighted works have recently been brought to my attention. I am very concerned by the public's apparent disregard for copyright law demonstrated by rampant infringement of 'Happy Birthday To You.' It is with this in mind that I wish to bring to your attention a recent unauthorized public performance: -->> WHEN (e.g., December 10, 2004) -->> WHERE (e.g., at the Vol De Nuit at 148 West 4th Street in New York) -->> WHO (e.g., a group of patrons and the barstaff) I hope that you are able to quickly follow up on this and to enforce your copyright and extract the necessary royalties or licenses from the offenders. It is, in part, because of your lax and selective enforcement of your copyright that most people do not realize that 'Happy Birthday To You' is even copyrighted at all. In the event that you choose to continue selectively enforcing the copyright in 'Happy Birthday To You,' for whatever reason, please consider asking Congress to change copyright law to reflect the way that most people view and interact with copyrighted works such as 'Happy Birthday.' Sincerely yours, -->> YOUR NAME -->> YOUR ADDRESS"