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Restaurant owner faces court for no PRS licence

8th August 2007, 12:55pm

A restaurant owner from Kent has surrendered to the High Court after he ignored a court order for not holding a Performing Right Society licence for the music in his restaurant.

Mr Hakim Mallem of La Notte in Orpington hadn't maintained a music licence since 2005. He chose to ignore an injunction to stop him from playing copyright music in his restaurant.

If copyright music is being played in public i.e. restaurants, cafes, bars, clearance is need to do so from the owners of that music. PRS represents the owners ensuring the music is played in a legal way.

Mr Mallem has been ordered by the court to surrender his passport and not leave the UK before his next hearing which takes place in October.

PRS Public Performance Sales Managing Director Keith Gilbert said: "We have taken this action after repeated attempts to advise Mr Mallem that he is required by law to buy a music licence. His refusal is unfair to all those restaurant owners who comply with the law and buy their licence each year.

"This sad case demonstrates that ignoring a legal requirement gets you nowhere and that the Courts take seriously those who flout their rules and procedures. Mr Mallem spent time in a cell for it."

The cost of playing music in business is less than most people think; from as little as 20p a day. This money is paid back to the people who have created the music.

Related Articles:

22 Oct 2009 - Over £15m refunds won for hospitality industry in music copyright battle

Words Clare Riley 0 comments

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