More publishing news. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers has confirmed it has filed copyright infringement lawsuits against ten nightclubs, bars and restaurants in eight US states. The businesses targeted do have valid licences from the performing rights organisation but, ASCAP say, they have all failed to comply with their payment terms.
The society's Senior VP For Licensing, Vincent Candilora, told reporters: "The situation with these establishments is certainly regrettable. But it has long been ASCAP's experience that if we do not enforce our agreements with club owners and other music users, many of them will simply continue to avoid their obligations to comply with the law. In the end, this really hurts the individual songwriters who are also, in effect, 'small business owners'".
It is unclear if the lawsuits are in reaction to isolated problems limited to the ten targeted clubs and bars, or whether there is a wider problem with royalty payments in that sector, which ASCAP hopes to overcome by making a stand in these cases.