Viewing Single Trivia
▲
1
▼
If the player visits a Pokémon Center on their birthday in any of the Generation VI Pokémon games, they will receive a special message wishing them a happy birthday.
In the Japanese versions, the Pokémon Center will additionally play a music box rendition of "Happy Birthday to You", which is replaced by a similar version of the Pokémon Center theme on subsequent visits that day. The international release omits the former song, only playing the latter even on the player's first visit. This is owed to the fact that "Happy Birthday to You" was still nominally under copyright in the United States, not officially falling into the public domain until 2016 after a three-year legal battle (the song was declared de facto public domain in 2015, but the final settlement was not issued until the following year).
In the Japanese versions, the Pokémon Center will additionally play a music box rendition of "Happy Birthday to You", which is replaced by a similar version of the Pokémon Center theme on subsequent visits that day. The international release omits the former song, only playing the latter even on the player's first visit. This is owed to the fact that "Happy Birthday to You" was still nominally under copyright in the United States, not officially falling into the public domain until 2016 after a three-year legal battle (the song was declared de facto public domain in 2015, but the final settlement was not issued until the following year).
Gameplay footage of the birthday message:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZHXGYONH1s
The Cutting Room Floor articles:
https://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_X_and_Y#Birthday_Music
https://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Omega_Ruby_and_Alpha_Sapphire#Birthday_Music
Articles about "Happy Birthday to You" becoming de facto public domain:
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232639/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/23/us-judge-rules-happy-birthday-is-public-domain-throws-out-copyright-claim
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923111033/http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/09/happy-birthday-public-domain/406867/
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923014052/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-happy-birthday-song-lawsuit-decision-20150922-story.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160224071416/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-how-the-happy-birthday-song-was-set-free-20150923-story.html
Court document detailing the final settlement in 2016:
https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2938811/76d56dc1-4b7b-4d07-b6ab-351f79b4a8ca.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZHXGYONH1s
The Cutting Room Floor articles:
https://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_X_and_Y#Birthday_Music
https://tcrf.net/Pok%C3%A9mon_Omega_Ruby_and_Alpha_Sapphire#Birthday_Music
Articles about "Happy Birthday to You" becoming de facto public domain:
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923232639/http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/sep/23/us-judge-rules-happy-birthday-is-public-domain-throws-out-copyright-claim
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923111033/http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2015/09/happy-birthday-public-domain/406867/
https://web.archive.org/web/20150923014052/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-happy-birthday-song-lawsuit-decision-20150922-story.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20160224071416/http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-how-the-happy-birthday-song-was-set-free-20150923-story.html
Court document detailing the final settlement in 2016:
https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2938811/76d56dc1-4b7b-4d07-b6ab-351f79b4a8ca.pdf
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to post comments.
Related Games
Pokémon Moon
Pokémon Puzzle League
Pokémon Diamond Version
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
Pokémon Sun
PokéPark Wii: Pikachu's Adventure
Pokémon Ruby Version
Pokémon X
Pokémon Scarlet
Pokémon SoulSilver Version
Pokémon Ultra Sun
Pokémon Blue Version
Pokémon Silver Version
Pokémon Snap
Pokémon Shining Pearl
Pokémon LeafGreen Version
Pokémon Channel
Pokémon Ultra Moon
Pokémon Sapphire Version
Pokémon Platinum Version
Pokémon Conquest
Pokkén Tournament
Pokémon Black Version 2
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond
My Pokémon Ranch
Pokémon Green Version
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire
Pokémon Gold Version
Pokémon Picross
Pokémon Pinball
Pokémon Emerald Version
Pokémon White Version
Pokémon Picross
Pokémon Yellow Version: Special Pikachu Edition
Pokémon Battle Revolution
Pokémon Home
Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!
Pokémon Sword
Hey You, Pikachu!
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team
Pokémon Black Version
Pokémon Shield
Pokémon HeartGold Version
Pokémon Pearl Version
Pokémon Go
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu!
Pocket Monsters Stadium
Pokémon Red Version
Pokémon FireRed Version
Pokémon Crystal Version