NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

‘Happy Birthday’ will be in public domain

LOS ANGELES

A judge has approved a settlement that will put “Happy Birthday to You” in the public domain.

U.S. District Judge George King approved the agreement Monday. It ends the ownership claims of Warner/Chappell Music, the music publishing company that has been collecting royalties on the song for years.

The company has agreed to pay back $14 million to those who have paid licensing fees to use the song.

Last year, King ruled that the company didn’t own the lyrics to the ditty, one of the best-known and most beloved songs in the world. He said the company has no right to charge for the song’s use.

Warner/Chappell has said it didn’t try to collect royalties from just anyone singing the song but those who use it in a commercial enterprise.

Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce

LOS ANGELES

Court records show Lisa Marie Presley had filed for divorce from her husband of more than 10 years.

Records show Presley filed to end her marriage to guitarist Michael Lockwood on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court. The filing cites irreconcilable differences.

Presley and Lockwood were married in January 2006, and they have 7-year-old twin daughters together.

Lockwood’s website states he has collaborated on music with his estranged wife as well as Aimee Mann, Carly Simon and Fiona Apple.

It was Presley’s fourth marriage. The singer-actress was previously married to Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage and is the only child of Elvis Presley.

Her filing states she separated from Lockwood on June 13.

The divorce was first reported by the celebrity website TMZ.

Associated Press