'Happy Birthday' song becomes public domain, judge rules

The world famous "Happy Birthday to You" jingle is officially available for public use.  

A judge approved the settlement on Monday, ending the ownership claim that the Warner/Chappell Music company had on the song for years.

U.S. District Judge George King ordered that Warner/Chappell Music payback the money they have collected in royalties for the song.  He ruled the the company didn't own the lyrics to the jingle so they therefore have no right to charge for the song's use.  

That's right, anytime someone wanted to use the jingle in a commercial enterprise, they had to pay the company a licensing fee.  

So just how much money had been made off one of the best-known, most beloved songs in the world? A cool $14 million.

Now you can sing freely!