Via Slashdot: (whoops where did that link go!)
"The Internet Industry Association of Australia is posting warning scenarios spelling out how far-reaching this law would be. From the release: "A family who holds a birthday picnic in a place of public entertainment (for example, the grounds of a zoo) and sings 'Happy Birthday' in a manner that can be heard by others, risks an infringement notice carrying a fine of up to $1,320. If they make a video recording of the event, they risk a further fine for the possession of a device for the purpose of making an infringing copy of a song... The US Free Trade Agreement does not require Australia to go down this path, and neither US nor European law contain such far-reaching measures. We are at a total loss to understand how this policy has developed, who is behind it and why there is such haste in enacting it into law — with little if any public debate."
Also from Slashdot
RealGrouchy (943109) on Sunday November 19, @10:21PM (#16909832)
I say sing any number of immature variations and claim fair-use as "parody".
Happy birthday to you
This song's seventy-two
But each time I sing it
I still must pay you
- RG
yes the song, "Happy Birthday" is copyright - see Snopes.com
It does seem over the top - yes we should protect intellectual property but why take a sledgehammer to us?
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