happy birthday

[View the story “Happy birthday Mr. President, and you too Darwin” on Storify]

Fifty years ago, WAC Bennett declared the Trans-Canada open at the Rogers Pass

Thanks to a reader for pointing out a mistake in my article on “Happy Birthday”: the song is not, in fact, under copyright in Canada, but entered the public domain in Canada in 1985. (Warner/Chappell sent the reader a letter to this effect in 1997.) I recall being told, in law school, that the song was under copyright everywhere, but apparently this was wrong — which could be taken as further proof that you shouldn’t believe everything lawyers tell you.

All those restaurant waiters singing the iconic tune? Legally, they could owe $20,000.