HOWEVER:
Snopes has checked it out:
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/birthday.htm And here is another one:
http://mmd.foxtail.com/Archives/Digests/199804/1998.04.17.09.html 'Happy Birthday' Song Copyright Renewed
By Gary Jones
"Happy Birthday", copyright 1935, has had its copyright renewed.
That's why restaurants with waiters who sing to you on your birthday
sometimes use a "corporate" birthday tune instead. They're not paying
the license fee.
Did I hear a rumor that Michael Jackson (yes, "the" Michael Jackson)
purchased the rights to "Happy Birthday" and numerous other popular
standards?
By the by, American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) has a "blanket"
ASCAP and BMI license agreement so that its chapters are covered
for public theatre organ performances and conventions. This way,
each chapter doesn't have to deal with this individually.
Yes, lawyers rule the day.
Do you know the difference between a laywer and a cat fish?
One is a scum sucking bottom feeder, the other is a fish.
BTW, check out my tag line.
"Happy Birthday", copyright 1935, has had its copyright renewed. As I said, there may be a copyright on the lyrics. The original "Good Morning to All", however, is certainly and unambiguously in the public domain.