You may soon be free to sing, play or use the popular "Happy Birthday to You" song without the fear of being sued. Music publisher Warner Music Group had bought the rights for the popular song for $22 million in 1988 and has since made an estimated $2 million a year licensing the song for movies and television, reported The Guardian. Warner has now agreed to pay $14m to those who paid licensing fees to use the song and end a lawsuit challenging its right over it. The settlement is tentative pending approval by United States District Judge George H King, reported The Los Angeles Times.

The lawsuit was filed in 2013 by a group of filmmakers who believed the song should be in the public domain. The tune was written in 1893 by Patty Smith Hill and her sister Mildred J Hill, and was originally titled "Good Morning to All." The sisters included it in a children's music book and left the copyright with their publisher, reported PTI. At some point, the "Happy Birthday" lyrics were added.

Warner's decision to settle the lawsuit came after the judge ruled in September that the music publisher and other prior companies never had the right to charge for use of the song. The tentative settlement allows those who paid for the use of the song as long ago as 1949 to get some or all of their money back. A hearing on the preliminary approval of the settlement is scheduled for March 14, the report said.