介绍:
Happy Birthday To You copyright case settled
dispute n./vt./vi. 辩论；争吵 -CET4
copyright n. 版权，著作权 -CET4
settle vt./vi. 解决，安排，定居 -CET4
royalty n. 皇室；版税；王权；专利税 -CET6
filmmaker n. 电影摄制者 -CET4
episode n. 插曲；一段情节；插话；有趣的事件 -CET4
acquire v. 获得，学到 -CET4
grant v. 授予，同意
A legal dispute over copyright fees for the song Happy Birthday To You has been settled out of court.
The music company Warner/Chappell had claimed the rights to the song but earlier this year a judge ruled that the lyrics could be used without the need to pay royalties.
A group of artists and filmmakers had sought to claim back the money collected by the firm over the years.
The terms of the agreement have not been revealed. Warner/Chappell is thought to have made $2m a year by charging every time the song was used in a film, television episode, advertisement or other public performance.
It acquired the copyright in 1988 but a judge ruled it was only granted for specific arrangements of the music, not the song itself.
In a statement the company said:"While we respectfully disagreed with the court's decision, we are pleased to have now resolved this matter."
