<P> None of the early appearances of the `` Happy Birthday to You '' lyrics included credits or copyright notices . The Summy Company registered a copyright in 1935 , crediting authors Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R. R. Forman . In 1988 , Warner / Chappell Music purchased the company owning the copyright for US $ 25 million , with the value of `` Happy Birthday '' estimated at US $ 5 million . Based on the 1935 copyright registration , Warner claimed that the United States copyright will not expire until 2030 , and that unauthorized public performances of the song are illegal unless royalties are paid to Warner . In one specific instance in February 2010 , the royalty for a single use was said to be US $ 700 . By one estimate , the song is the highest - earning single song in history , with estimated earnings since its creation of US $ 50 million . In the European Union , the copyright for the song expired on January 1 , 2017 . </P>
<P> None of the early appearances of the `` Happy Birthday to You '' lyrics included credits or copyright notices . The Summy Company registered a copyright in 1935 , crediting authors Preston Ware Orem and Mrs. R. R. Forman . In 1988 , Warner / Chappell Music purchased the company owning the copyright for US $ 25 million , with the value of `` Happy Birthday '' estimated at US $ 5 million . Based on the 1935 copyright registration , Warner claimed that the United States copyright will not expire until 2030 , and that unauthorized public performances of the song are illegal unless royalties are paid to Warner . In one specific instance in February 2010 , the royalty for a single use was said to be US $ 700 . By one estimate , the song is the highest - earning single song in history , with estimated earnings since its creation of US $ 50 million . In the European Union , the copyright for the song expired on January 1 , 2017 . </P>
who owns the rights to the song happy birthday
who owns the rights to the song happy birthday
Warner / Chappell Music
Warner / Chappell Music