Question: who owns rights to the happy birthday song

title: Happy Birthday to You
text: It is traditional , among English - speakers , that at a birthday party , the song `` Happy Birthday to You '' be sung to the birthday person by the other guests celebrating the birthday . More specifically , the birthday person is traditionally presented with a birthday cake with lit candles , with the number of candles sometimes corresponding to the age of the person . After the song is sung ( usually just once ) , party guests sometimes add wishes like `` and many more ! '' expressing the hope that the birthday person will enjoy a long life . The birthday person may be asked to make a wish ( `` Make a wish ! '' ) -- which he or she does silently -- and then is supposed to blow out the candles . Traditionally , blowing out the candles is believed ( or is considered a lighthearted superstition ) to ensure that the wish will come true . Once the candles have been blown out , people may applaud , after which the cake may be served , often with the first piece being served to the person whose birthday it is .