Now you can sing 'Happy Birthday' in public and not have to pay a licensing fee. A judge approved a settlement agreement on Monday, ending the long-running copyright dispute.

U.S. District Judge George H. King ruled last year that the song – sung at birthday parties for more than 100 years – was not legally owned by Warner/Chappell, paving the way for the settlement.

Somewhere down the line, the lyrics to the “Happy Birthday” song were added to the melody. In 1935, Summy Co. claimed rights to the birthday version of the song for the first time.

Good Morning to You Productions Corp. had filed the suit in 2013, after it was threatened with a $150,000 penalty for using “Happy Birthday” sans permission in a documentary about the song.

Practically everyone knows the song “Happy Birthday to You.” Experts say it is sung more than any other song in the English language, and maybe more than any other song in the world.

Considering the tune to "Happy Birthday" has been in public domain since 1949, this is a pretty big step for the 122 year old song.

Happy Birthday Alternatives in Film and Television from Free Music Archive on Vimeo. In related March 14 birthday news, Billy Crystal will turn 68; Ansel Elgort will turn 22; and Michael Caine and ...