ASCAP Files Lawsuit Against Rum Runners For Playing Songs Without A License

Following several years worth of attempts to reach out to Rum Runners’ owners, an investigator hired by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers arrived at the island-themed dance club in the Flats East Bank. On a typical Friday night, you can hear the music blaring and see people dancing. But the investigator was keeping track of each individual song that the venue played. Two especially stood out: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and J-Kwon’s “Tipsy.”

These two songs and their writers are central to a copyright infringement lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court recently. The suit, filed by ASCAP, accuses Rum Runners’ owners of refusing to pay annual dues to the music licensing agency for years. According to the lawsuit, ASCAP representatives made “more than 80” calls and emails in an attempt to encourage the owners to agree to a licensing agreement. Such an agreement would have kept Rum Runners away from any copyright problems.

ASCAP said in a statement that they weren’t trying to put Rum Runners out of business; they were trying to generate discussion with the owners and get them to the table. “Our goal is to ensure music creators and the songwriters who made the music are paid a fair compensation,” a representative from ASCAP said in a statement.

There are over one million songwriters registered with ASCAP. They get 90 cents of every dollar paid to the agency for licensing fees. Paying those fees allows bars and restaurants to play about 20 million songs to patrons in a legal format that’s been common since the 1910s.

Alongside Rum Runners, 14 other bars and restaurants were hit with copyright infringement suits in the past week, including Lori’s Roadhouse in West Chester, Ohio. ASCAP files dozens to hundreds of similar lawsuits each year.

What should I do if I’m sued by ASCAP? 

If your Ohio business is being sued by ASCAP, your first step is to understand the nature of the lawsuit filed against you. This could involve reviewing the lawsuit’s documents and contacting the attorneys at Kohl & Cook Law Firm, LLC. We specialize in copyright and business law and can help your business resolve the allegations against it. We’ll gather relevant evidence to support your case, such as licenses, agreements, or any documentation related to your use of ASCAP’s music.

The last thing you want to do is ignore the lawsuit. In an ASCAP copyright infringement lawsuit, you could face statutory damages ranging from $750 to $30,000 per infringement. If the court determines the infringement was willful, you could face damages of up to $150,000 per infringement. In addition, you could be liable for ASCAP’s attorney fees and other related costs. So, you definitely want to contact an attorney before that happens.

Talk to a Columbus, OH ASCAP Defense Lawyer Today 

Kohl & Cook Law Firm, LLC, represents the interests of businesses that are being sued by ASCAP or another agency for copyright infringement. Call our Columbus civil litigation lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.

Source:

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