An Indian-origin musician in the United States was among many celebrating victory after a California court ruled as invalid a copyright claim by a giant corporation on 'Happy Birthday To You', dubbed the world's most popular song.

Rupa Marya, the lead voice, composer and music director of the band Rupa and The April Fishes, had joined filmmaker Robert Siegel in challenging the copyright on 'Happy Birthday' claimed by Warner Music, which had been charging licence fees for commercial use of the song, The Telegraph reports.  

US district judge George H King of a Los Angeles federal court examined the history of the song and its lyrics -- traced back to the 1890s -- and ruled that Warner could not own the copyright it had claimed.

"I'm elated today, and excited to see that ordinary citizens can challenge the stupid greed of corporations and take back what belongs in the commons," Marya told The Telegraph on email from the US.