York nightspot banned from playing music (From York Press)

Stereo in Gillygate banned from playing music

9:44am Friday 2nd November 2012 in News By Press reporter

A NIGHTSPOT in York has been banned by one of the country’s top judges from playing copyrighted recorded music.

Nicola South, the proprietor of Stereo in Gillygate, faced the music at London’s High Court yesterday after she was caught playing such tracks without a Phonographic Performance Ltd (PPL) licence.

Mr Justice Warren imposed the ban, which also extends to any other premises she runs until she brings her licence up to date.

He also ordered South, who was not in court and not represented, to pay £1,729 in legal costs in the next 14 days.

Failure to obey the order would be regarded as contempt of court, the penalties for which can be fines of up to £10,000 and up to six months prison.

The judge was told she was caught after a PPL inspector visited the premises on April 21 and heard tracks including ‘Abandon Ship’, ‘Just Like Honey’ and ‘Let’s Get Tattoos’ being played when no licence was in force.

PPL’s counsel Jonathan Moss said solicitors had sent letters to the premises about the fact that the playing in public of sound recordings without PPL’s licence or permission constituted infringement of its copyright, and inviting her to acquire a licence, but she failed to do so.

The ban applies to all forms of mechanically recorded music such as records, tapes and CDs in PPL’s repertoire. Depending on the size of a venue and the audiences involved music licences can cost very little but they can also run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

PPL spokesperson Clare Goldie said: “PPL is the UK-based music licensing company which licenses recorded music for broadcast, online and public performance use. Established in 1934, PPL carries out this role on behalf of thousands of record company and performer members. Public Performance licences are issued by PPL to hundreds of thousands of businesses and organisations from all sectors across the UK who play recorded music to their staff or customers and who therefore require a licence by law.”