Via Drudge:
Wolfy’s, a lower Broadway restaurant and bar, was sued by the performing rights organization ASCAP Monday for failing to pay royalties for music played in the nightclub over the past several years.The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Nashville after attempting for several years to collect payment from Wolfy’s, said Vincent Candilora, ASCAP’s Nashville-based senior vice president of licensing.
This is my favorite quote:
“We went in there literally 10, 15 times, and they keep just kind of thumbing their nose at us. This is what will happen eventually,” Candilora said.
Is it just me, or does this sound like the music industry's own goon squad?
"Hey, I'm jus' sayin'; sumthin' could happen if youse ain't careful."
More from the article:
The suits allege that the establishments have publicly performed the copyrighted musical works of ASCAP’s member songwriters, composers and music publishers without permission.
I'm all for artists being paid royalties when their songs are played on the radio, used in advertisement, or possibly even when their songs are being played in establihments where music is the primary form of entertainment (although I'm still iffy there), but here are some of the businesses currently being sued by ASCAP:
The Back Porch
Saddlerack
Joe's Cafe
Hundred South Grille
Buffalo Billiards
American Sports Cafe
Buffalo Tap & Grille
Soulard Ale House
Scuttlebutts Restaurant and Bar
Joe's Cafe? Scuttlebutts Restaurant? Buffalo Billiards?
This past weekend I heard the owner of a small dry cleaner calling in to one of those 'free legal advice' radio shows. He said that ASCAP representatives had visited three times in the past two weeks to inform him that he was going to have to start paying, them because he plays CDs in the background while his business is open, so technically, he is using the artists' works as 'entertainment' for his clients.
The attorneys told him to consult another lawyer who speacializes in intellectual property, but they didn't think he would prevail. They're probably right. According to this article (again via Drudge):
During 2004, ASCAP achieved a 100% success rate with its copyright infringement litigation, with all concluded cases resulting in either a cash settlement or a judgment in favor of ASCAP members.
Maybe Nickie Goomba could have a little talk wit' dese ASCAP guys. Hey, I'm jus' sayin'
Posted by John from WuzzaDem