ASCAP crashes the party

Posted Wednesday, August 01, 2007 @ 02:20 in Music by Som Khamsaysoury

Digging in those crate of records may prove to be pricey as the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), has decided to slap about two dozen venues in the U.S. with lawsuits for "infringing" on established properties without their permission. In easier terms, ASCAP (which members include the good doctor himself Dr. Dre, Coldplay, Jay-Z and punky-pop princess Avril Lavigne) is filing suit against several bars, nightclubs and restaurants for playing copyrighted material in public, sorta similar to what the Recording Inudustry Association of America (RIAA) has done by suing college students, 7-year-old children, grandmas and next of kin of dead people.

Apparently, playing or "performing" a song to a large group (even one that is legitimately purchased) is a federal offense. Without proper licensing from the ASCAP, those venues can be sued for playing any single song that is apart of the group's vast library. And, licensing can put a dent in those wallets, costing up to $979 a year for each song, depending on the size of the venue. ASCAP is even seeking $30,000 from a Seattle restaurant for putting on "public performances." And what is a public performance? According to the ASCAP a public perforamance "is one that occurs either in a public place or any place where people gather (other than a small circle of a family or its social acquaintances)." That includes background music, music while on hold, and DJ's spinning records.

A list of of those "violators" and a ASCAP press release can be found here, while a FAQ on licensing can be found by pointing your clicker here.

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