I have been reading with interest the recent postings on the copyright
status of "Happy Birthday".  It is my understanding that the copyright
to this song has been one of the most tightly held in history.

Last evening, I noticed that a Dairy Queen commercial was playing the
popularly known Happy Birthday song while advertising their birthday
ice cream "cakes".  I assume this means that either the song is finally
in public domain or, Dairy Queen paid a sizable royalty for the use of
the song.

Gary Rasmussen