Bar Breaks Copyright Law

A Palmerston North bar has been ordered to stop illegally playing music for which it does not have a Public Performance Licence.

The Palmerston North District Court also ordered the Shamrock Inn to pay costs and damages amounting to almost $3,500.00.

An annual Public Performance Licence would have cost the Shamrock Inn just $100.00.

PPNZ, the licensing arm of the Recording Industry Association (RIANZ), brought the case against the inn after the owner failed to obtain a Public Performance Licence to play sound recordings in a commercial environment. The bar also used sound recordings supplied to them by an unlicensed jukebox operation.

“This sends a very clear message to businesses,” says PPNZ licensing & business development manager Mark Roach.

“Recorded music is sold to the public for private use. If people intend using that music in a commercial capacity or adding value to their business by using copyright material then they need to have the necessary permission to do so.

“PPNZ will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect the intellectual property rights of our members’ local and international repertoire.”

ENDS

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