Mt. Vernon club sued over music -

A Baltimore nightspot has been sued in federal court for copyright infringement for allegedly performing music compositions without authorization.

[This is silly]

This is BS litigation.

[You have to be kidding]

Next thing you know it you have a backyard BBQ and put ona CD to listen to music you will be sued. I understand when people using sharing software to share and trade music with out paying for it but this is going to far. When does it stop?

[Adrien]

This is silly wrote:

This is BS litigation.

No, this is a very simple law. Artists do not work for free, so that someone else can make money off of their compositions...I would think that any one that has existed for more than 14 years would understand and completely support musical groups and composers, who make very little usually, unless they become the few who make it big.

[Rick Shaw]

Artists Seeking Capital And Payola - These guys are getting into bed w/ the oil companies!

[britboy]

I'm not sure I understand since almost every pub and bar I have visited in the past 25 years has been playing all sorts of music from most likely many of the publishers listed. Is this a case of one place being singled out, or is the Red Maple charging an exhorbitant cover charge to visit their
bar and listen to music.......I can't believe that the many thousands of bars/pubs/cafes/restaurants worldwide are paying these fees.....are they??

[Not Silly at all]

Everyone has the right to expect to be compensated for their work. Why should a music artist be any different? Answer: they aren't. Okay, ASCAP, BMI and SESAC are blood-suckers, a little bit. But why should the club owners effectively get to use the music for free? If it's just a matter of cost, raise drink prices. There's always room in the budget for drinking. Good economy or bad, a trip to the bar is always in the budget. Sadly, if the ASCAPs of the world don't look after the smaller artists, they wont' be able to go to the bar or anywhere. They'll be stuck waiting tables or slinging drinks at some bar listening to others' music, rather than producing their own. That would be sad.

[Wabalena]

Back in the 50's radio stations and the music industry got in hot water over money being paid to DJ"s for songs to be played over the air. It was called "Payola" and was in every newspaper and tv station for a long time. Now the music industry is so greedy that when they get free exposure they want to sue people for it. I think these restaurants should counter sue for the exposure they have given to these mediocre "artists" over the years.

[To Wabalena]

Wabalena wrote:

Back in the 50's radio stations and the music industry got in hot water over money being paid to DJ"s for songs to be played over the air. It was called "Payola" and was in every newspaper and tv station for a long time. Now the music industry is so greedy that when they get free exposure they want to sue people for it. I think these restaurants should counter sue for the exposure they have given to these mediocre "artists" over the years.

If it's so mediocre, then don't use it! Better yet, create your own music, or hire musicians to play their own songs. Most musicians get paid precious little for their recordings; the only way they make money is through high volume sales of recordings and licensing royalties when their songs are played for commercial purposes, like at a nightclub. There's lots of music out there that these bar owners can play license-free; if the club CHOOSES to play licensed music that they think will interest their customers (which will in turn make them money), then they should pay the licensing fees.

[Converted]

At first I agreed with everyone here who says it is a BS attempt to shake down small businesses.

Then I had the opportunity to communicate with someone inside the business.

There is a lot more to this than the Sun reports, and once exposed to the law and the logic behind it all, much of this becomes clear.

Rates are based on the size of the establishment, number of opportunities for music to be played (which includes live, DJ'd, radio, TV, jukebox, karoke,) how much seating capacity, and so forth.

Generally, it works out that the establishment is paying a nominal amount based on the overall volume of extra business that the music generates.

And if it isn't worth the hassle, the establishment can stop playing the music.

But then many customers will go somewhere else, an establishment who does obey the law imposed by Congress and validated by the Supreme Court.

So the law-breaking establishment may go out of business.

Just my .02, which isn't worth very much at all after inflation.

[Wabalena]

Converted wrote:

At first I agreed with everyone here who says it is a BS attempt to shake down small businesses.
Then I had the opportunity to communicate with someone inside the business.
There is a lot more to this than the Sun reports, and once exposed to the law and the logic behind it all, much of this becomes clear.
Rates are based on the size of the establishment, number of opportunities for music to be played (which includes live, DJ'd, radio, TV, jukebox, karoke,) how much seating capacity, and so forth.
Generally, it works out that the establishment is paying a nominal amount based on the overall volume of extra business that the music generates.
And if it isn't worth the hassle, the establishment can stop playing the music.
But then many customers will go somewhere else, an establishment who does obey the law imposed by Congress and validated by the Supreme Court.
So the law-breaking establishment may go out of business.
Just my .02, which isn't worth very much at all after inflation.

You are beginning to sound like a music industry ringer to me. After being enlightened on the subject myself I prefer to align myself with the idea that record sales are in the tank because consumers are tired of buying a CD full of crap to get one good song. Being as CD sales can't make it any more the industry paid a bunch of lobbyists to come up with legislation that could keep their boat afloat. "Let's sell license fees" was their cry and they got it passed. It's crap legislation. You can tell me to not use it, well I say don't sell it unless the purchaser can play it.

You can't blame downloading for the dying CD sales, because single song purchases have made Apple one of the hottest stocks around. People will pay, but not for crap.

These people are as sleazy as the porn industry.

[vargas]

Well the real issue is that the venue wasn't playing copyrighted music in the first place. So why are they being sued? Sounds like extortion to me!

[Mark]

ASCAP are extortionists ! There's little difference between what they are doing to clubs and bars than the Mafia. I agree songwriters should be compensated for their music. That's what purchasing CD's is about.But a cover band in a local bar is not copyright infringement. It's local entertainment that in no way affects a song writer.

[CORBERLAW]

THE VENUE SHOULD HAVE ASCAP DISCLOSE THE COPYRIGHT REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION FROM THE REGISTRAR OF COPYRIGHTS IN WASHINGTON AS TO EACH COMPOSITION UPON WHICH INFRINGEMENT IS BASED PURSUANT TO FRCP RULE 26.

[MeININDIANA]

SCREW ASCAP they are nothing more than legallized extortion

[Gypsy Blogger]

Anyone who has ever been to Red Maple knows that their bread and butter has been Wednesday nights, when they play obscure Turkish, Balkan, and Arabic music as Clark states. Otherwise, it seems private parties make up another large source of revenue for them. In both of these circumstances ASCAP's allegations do not apply.

These big named artists like Prince and Madonna are not typical of the music you will find being played at Red Maple. It is not a top 40 dance club. Its a club that showcases live Flamenco performances, salsa, and the aforementioned Turkish, Balkan, and Arabic music. The venue has made its money of an obscure niche market.

I don't think this is about protecting artists' rights or artist's deserved revenue. Its about ASCAP trying to make money.

[Jason Ragona]

Red Maple sucks anyway. Food names that sound like frog legs and music to match(other than the real House music they use to have). If mgmt of the club was warned multiple times they should have just listened.

[Cortney]

Maybe they should stop charging $20 at the door,too...they might actually get a few locals in there.

[Music]

They should get sued again because they had that music up so loud i could hear the music just driveing by now that is true.