1 hour, 38 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -
ASCAP, a performing rights group
that collects royalties on behalf of songwriters and copyright
owners, said on Monday it sued 29 nightclubs, bars and
restaurants across the United States for playing music in
public without a license.
The copyright infringement lawsuits were filed as "a last
resort" after frequent contact with the defendants over the
last one to two years, said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP's senior
vp licensing.
"In most cases, they probably just figured that we would go
away," Candilora told Reuters.
ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers) files between 200 and 250 suits every year, and
most are settled, Candilora said.
That will likely be the case with one of the defendants,
Paulie's Upper Deck in the coastal Los Angeles suburb of
Redondo Beach. A co-owner who identified himself as Tootie told
Reuters he had just taken over the venue, and would probably
call ASCAP to arrange payment.
"Pay 'em, or you get screwed," Tootie said, expressing
frustration that he has to pay not only ASCAP, but its rivals
BMI (Broadcast Music Inc) and SESAC (Society of European Stage
Authors & Composers).
ASCAP represents such artists as Metallica, Joni Mitchell,
Green Day, Dr. Dre and Madonna.
(Reporting by Dean Goodman)
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